The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has kicked against the use of concessionaires or consultants by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for revenue collection.
In a statement on Thursday by the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Muhammad Nami, he described such action as a violation of extant laws that gives sole responsibility of federal government’s revenue to the service.
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It cited “The Service wish to call the attention of the general public, particularly, all MDAs to Section 68(2) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act (FIRSEA) 2007 (as amended), which provides that subject to subsection (1) and notwithstanding any other law imposing taxes or levies in Nigeria, the Service shall be the primary agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria responsible for the administration, assessment, collection, accounting and enforcement of taxes and levies due to the Federal Government or any of its agencies, except as may be authorised by the Minister responsible for Finance by regulation as approved by the National assembly.”
Nami stated that Section 12(4) of the FIRSEA also took cognizance that the service could appoint and employ consultants, to engage in execution of its functions provided that the consultants would not carry out duties of assessing and collecting tax or routine responsibilities of tax officials.
He said with the provisions of the law: “it is clear that the duty of administration, assessment, collection, accounting or enforcement of taxes and levies due to the Federal Government or any of its agencies is that of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and its tax officials. No part of these responsibilities can be contracted to a private enterprise by any other MDA.”
He said further appointment of any person other than by FIRS, to assess, collect, enforce or account for taxes constitutes an offence punishable, upon conviction, with fine, imprisonment or both.
