Protocol:
I welcome you all to this end of year press briefing which I am privileged to address as the Acting Chairman of the FCT-IRS. Today’s event is in line with our annual tradition of intimating you, the media, with our activities and performance for the year 2021 and our plan for 2022.
Permit me to use this opportunity to thank our stakeholders especially the esteemed taxpayers; the Hon Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello; the Hon Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary Mr Olusade Adesola, members of the National Assembly, our immediate past Executive Chairman Mr Abdullahi O Attah, Board Members, Management, Staff of the Service, the Media and off course the Civil Society Organizations among others for making the year 2021 worthwhile and fruitful for us at the FCT-IRS. We would not have recorded the modest achievement we had in the out-going year without the support and cooperation of all our stakeholders. We do not take all of these and you for granted.
In spite of the challenges faced by the Service and the FCT due to the impact of COVID-19, we were able to achieve and surpass our revenue target of N109Bn by 108% as at the end of November 2021. With this, the Service has so far collected and remitted the sum of N118Bn.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the migration to the use of online platforms has increased our pursuit of making FCT-IRS a technology-driven organization. Aside the FCT-IRS Tax Portal, the Service has deployed its Microsoft Office 365 which aids collaboration and provides 24/7 remote access to all its resources and processes. This has improved productivity leading to improved customer satisfaction. Response time to customer requests has also been improved since systems can be accessed remotely.
In the course of the year, we further understood the need for the residents and taxpayers to have offices close to them for ease of access and business. To this end three additional tax offices have been opened. These are Kuje, Bwari, and Gwarinpa to cater for the taxpayers residing and working in those areas.
We have also automated the payment and filing of tax returns so that our taxpayers do not necessarily have to physically visit our tax offices. They can process payments and filing of tax returns in the comfort of their homes seamlessly and without hassle. FCT taxpayers also have our call centre number 0700 220 0002. Do not forget you can dial 773722 # for TIN verification.
Gentlemen of the press, within the year under review, the Service engaged some consultants to conduct a six-year back duty tax audit of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Enterprises and Corporate organizations with presence in the FCT. This engagement has started yielding fruits because liabilities have been established and demand notices have been issued in accordance with Section 54 PITA, CAP P8, LFN, 2004 (As Amended).
It is also important to let you know that we are currently meeting with about 250 MDAs for the review and reconciliation of IPPIS/Personal Income Tax/PAYE to address issues of wrong remittances, non-remittances and under-remittances of employees of MDAs in the FCT.
We are carrying out this exercise in collaboration with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Joint Tax Board. Let me use this medium to invite all the MDAs that are yet to come for the exercise to please turn up before the deadline of December 10, 2021.
Permit me to also take our minds back to a 2 day retreat with our major stakeholders themed “towards a harmonized revenue management framework in the FCT”. The Retreat which had in attendance for the first time, the 6 Area Councils, All revenue generating agencies in the FCT and other stakeholders evaluated Issues of Multiple Taxation in the FCT and practical ways towards ensuring harmonisation of statutory Taxes, Permits, Fines and Levies etc. it is believe and also our expectation that the outcome of the retreat when fully implemented will assist in consolidating our revenue generating capacity and increase accountability for Management decision making,
We will not rest on our oars, until the Service becomes the highest Sub National Revenue Generating Agency in the Country. We cannot achieve this alone; hence the need for the support of all our major stakeholders including the media.
For the year 2022, we have a revenue target of N202 billion. Though it is a huge task but with determination and commitment of the Board members, Management, Staff, and stakeholders like you, we shall achieve the 2022 target.
Gentlemen of the press, it is important to inform you that we are planning to embark on an aggressive public enlightenment campaign and sensitization programme to educate and mobilize our prospective taxpayers with a view to boosting the revenue base of the FCT Administration.
You will agree with me that since the inception of the Service, we have been educating and sensitizing the residents and taxpayers to their civic responsibilities. It is important to state that in the year 2022, the Service will also embark on enforcement in collaboration with the relevant law enforcement agencies. This is in accordance with Section 8 and Part V of the FCTIRS Act 2015. This resolve has become necessary to address defaulters who insist on shortchanging the FCT Administration.
Also in the coming year 2022, it is our further resolve to have continuous engagement with stakeholders across the six area councils in the FCT to further strengthen the synergy and collaboration with the critical players across the FCT.
We believe that our activities in the coming year would not only strengthen the Service for better performance on all our mandates, we shall activate fully the process to position FCT-IRS as a leading revenue generating agency in Nigeria.
Once again, we thank you for the support in the out-going year and we count on you to do even more in the coming year 2022.
Thank you for your attention.