Acting executive chairman Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr Michael Ango, has called for a more robust partnership between the agency and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to enhance tax compliance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Ango made the call when he paid a courtesy visit on the Chief Executive Officer of NFIU, Hajiya Hafsa Abubakar on Tuesday.
He explained that NFIU is one of the strategic stakeholders of FCT-IRS; hence the need for the visit in order to strengthen the existing collaboration for the mutual benefits of the two organisations. He said the visit was part of engagements with the key stakeholders of the FCT-IRS of which NFIU is one, to solicit for support and cooperation with a view to enhancing revenue collection and administration in the FCT.
The acting chairman stated that he was aware of the existing partnership between the two organisations but looking forward to a closer and stronger working relationship between them for the progress of the FCT and the country in general.
The FCT-IRS boss noted that, coming together to share ideas, data and information between the two organizations, would help in no small measure to facilitate and improve their operations.
In her remarks, the NFIU Chief Executive Officer, Hajiya Hafsa Abubakar, who congratulated the Acting Executive Chairman on his appointment, also expressed delight for the visit.
Abubakar said she was confident that under the leadership of Mr Ango, the Service would continue to make significant strides by ensuring that the FCT stands out as an example for efficiency, effectiveness and integrity in revenue generation.
She explained that NFIU is the central national authority responsible for receiving reports from a broad range of local and foreign entities, analysing these reports and producing intelligence adding that this intelligence is shared with law enforcement and security agencies as well as other authorities in order to combat crimes.
“We also recognise that this issue is particularly important at the sub national level due to the huge demand of public investment particularly health, education and social services, this led to our decision to explore partnerships with state internal revenue services,” she said.