The Ag. Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Kabir Mashi, at the weekend called on staff to up the ante in tax revenue collection.
Mashi, who made this known at the FIRS Regional Enlarged Management Meeting (REMM) in Lagos, said such increase would help to narrow the gap between the tax revenue collection to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation.
The FIRS Chairman said the rebasing of the Nigerian GDP to over $500 billion and the tax revenue to GDP ratio remains a challenge to the country’s tax system which FIRS must work hard to bridge.
“I urge you not to rest on your oars as there is still work to be done. The government’s resolve to sustain the economy through taxation is now being re-echoed in every strata.
“When the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala commissioned our training school, she stated that with the rebasing of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the total tax ratio to GDP dropped to about 12 percent wile non-oil tax to GDP now stands at about four percent. This further places the Service in the full public glare of analysts and we cannot afford to disappoint,” Mashi said.
He also called on staff of the Service in the field offices to ensure efficiency and improve service delivery to members of the public, while pledging the management commitment to improve welfare of the staff.
“Last month at our Regional Enlarged Mangement Meeting, (REMM) in Kano, one of the issues I emphasized was service delivery, either within the organization, to the taxpayers or even the general public. I have said at different fora that FIRS is a service oriented organization.
“I urge you to live this out in your day to day activities. Make service delivery your watchword and let the outside world see FIRS as thoroughly service oriented,” the FIRS boss said.
Coordinating Director, Field Operations Group (FOG), Ajayi Bamidele, re-affirmed that the field offices would double efforts to ensure that the Service delivered on its set target of tax revenue collection for the year.
He urged staff in the position of authorities to measure-up with their assigned responsibilities and ensure that guidelines on operational processes, uniformity in operations and procedures were upheld.
“Let me emphasise that management will not hesitate to sanction any officer given a position of responsibility but not ready to carry out such responsibilities diligently.
“Directors and all supervising officers are therefore enjoined to lead this crusade and ensure that appropriate sanctions are meted out against any erring officer without fear or favour.”
The monthly REMM of the FIRS is designed to encourage dialogue between staff at the field offices and bring the Management closer to staff at the field offices across the regions.
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