Play your part in revenue generation — Minister tasks Nigerians
…Extols FIRS on improved technology
By Matthew Denis Abuja
The Minister of State for Budget and National Planing, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba has called on Nigerians to be part of governance through participation to know the happenings and play their part in revenue generation to boost the Economy.
The Minister made the disclosur during the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) National symposium on Taxation and Challenge of External Shocks held at Transcrop Hilton Abuja on Monday.
He said, “Revenue generation is an inclusive element that should be part of every Nigerian. We shouldn’t complain that the Economy is not striving but play our part in enhancing the Economy.”
The Minister stressed inclusion of various stakeholders, private sectors in taxation policies who contribute a huge to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country is vital to address the challenges surrounding the tax sector.
Prince Agba extolled the FIRS team on injecting modern technologies in the collection of revenue in the country with ease access to customer.
He said, “I wish to applause the FIRS Team in introducing modern gadgets to ease the stress encountered by clients when paying taxes. The launching of the communication gadgets with client in different local languages will boost revenue derivation.”
The Keynote Speaker Former Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru said the tax system can’t grow in alone without the nigerian system.
According to her both external shocks and internal shocks will disappears when the President of Nigeria take a drastic measures to harmonize revenue generation.
She emphasized that there will more participation and revenue generation will grow when a firm National Committee is Constitute by the president to formulate Taxation policies and procedures of execution.
One of the Discussant, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele Chairman of Debt Management Roundtable Nigerian Economic Summit stressed that there is need to curb the issue of multiple taxation in the country.
He said, “The Federal Government needs to bring all tax collection agencies under one platform to avoid contradiction and confusion in the system.
“Officially there are about 60 Government agencies collecting revenue, unofficially there are over 200 Revenue agents and only few remit such collection into the federation accounts.”
The revenue Expert noted that there is no problem with Government participation in business but there is serious problem with Government playing politics with Business.
He stated that formulation of a single Joint Tax Collection Board govern by FIRS is way forward towards Achieving optimal revenue generation in the country.
