The Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr. Haruna Abdullahi has indicated that the management of the Service has priortised institutional framework as key strategy to boost revenue generation in the territory, steadily.

A statement by the Head Corporate Communications of the service Mustapha Sumaila quoted Abdullahi to have spoken in a key note address on “Accounting for a better world” at the Annual Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Members, Partner Employers and Students Summit 2023 in Abuja.

He explained that what the management of the Service under his leadership has been doing in the last two years was to build a strong and robust system that would outlive them, thereby making processes and procedures of tax administration easier and seamless with a view to enhance tax collections.

“What we have been doing in the last two years is to build the institutional framework to fit into globally recognised institutions that will be a model for not only our counterpart agencies in Nigeria but in Africa.

“We have carried out a number of reforms to reshape the Service to enhance our revenue drive in the FCT. We have stepped up on our awareness campaigns to educate taxpayers on all our processes as well mobilise the prospective taxpayers to be in tax net.

“Our engagement with our major stakeholders has been enhanced overtime as we constantly engage them, update and educate them on decision, direction and introduction of any policy in order to carry them along.

“Capacity building of staff has been an utmost priority for the Service more than ever. We cannot have efficient and committed workforce if the staffers are not well trained to deliver optimally.

“From what we have done so far, in the next few years, there will be visible impact in terms of what the Service will be generating” he stated.

The FCT-IRS boss while speaking to students at the Summit, admonished them on the importance of mentorship when making career choices, as guides from their mentors would go a long way in shaping their career paths.

Abdullahi who is also a Fellow of ACCA underscored the need for mentors and successful persons in their choosen endeavours in the society to identify talents and build them to become great people in their careers.

The FCT-IRS chairman while commending the ACCA for organising the summit, stated that the association had given him global opportunity to work around the world hence urged the participants to tap from this privilege to change their destiny.

**Dismisses allegations by staff unions

The Management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), has re-stated its commitment to the implementation of a new salary structure that will be free of erroneous computations, and critically reflective of the financial reality in the fund for the welfare of its staff.
A statement by the General Manager Corporate Affairs of the NSITF, Mrs. Ijeoma Oji-Okoronkwo indicated that the fund would ensure that the two staff unions in the agency fully participate in the implementation.

Also while speaking against the backdrop of allegation of award of frivolous projects, she insisted that the management has always followed due process.

According to her, the fund had executed all contracts through proper evaluation and awarded in line with due process, with advisements and necessary approvals from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)

She said it was unfortunate that the fund’s staff union was influenced and misguided into a needless disruption of the planned activities by the management in the agency, on Thursday 16th March,2023.
According to her, by so doing they made true their earlier threats to breach industrial peace in the fund in alliance with the national leadership of Association of Senior Staff of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI)
“We are committed to transparency in discharging our responsibilities. We have no option,” Okoronkwo said.
Addressing the claims raised by the union, the Fund stated that “The allegation of frivolous and white elephant projects being awarded and implemented are unfounded, as every contract goes through a laid down process, including NEEDS assessment before bidding .
“Every contract in the fund is first evaluated to determine its impacts and usefulness before bidding. Indeed, the current E-NSITF is in line with the Federal Government mandate on e-business and thus, received all the necessary endorsement up to the Federal Executive Council(FEC) before its implementation.
“As a matter of fact, the E-NSITF has been on the drawing board since 2015 but it took the rejuvenated management and the parent Ministry to take it, head on in 2020 in line Federal Executive Council’s directive. Hence, it received all necessary endorsements from the Parastatal Tenders Board to the Ministerial Tenders Board and finally to the Federal Executive Council.
“The E-NSITF will effortlessly ease business management processes as it is ultimately targeted at increasing efficiency in daily operational input and output.
“The contributors can now easily get compliance certificates and have enhanced access entitlements, with an improved feedback for both the fund and its customers. Importantly, transparency will take the centre stage as the fulcrum of every operation.
“Contributors will enjoy the comfort of paying online from their offices, thereby cutting off fake NSITF compliance certificate that was the order before now and equally eliminate nefarious staff members who go to employers and contributors to make deal by lowering their workers’ strength.
“What’s more? The FEC contract price came with a BPE review that saved a lot of money for the government and the fund.
Curiously, the same chief that executed this procurement, is crying wolf because his favoured contractor lost out in the bid.
“Besides, the new salary structure earlier approved was found to be riddled with errors and replete with vague details, hence, necessitating clarification that will require time for proper computation which is being handled by the Natioal Salaries Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) that has promised to correct the anomalies and re-issue a 2023 wage structure that will still take effect from January 2023.
“NSIWC and the management of the NSITF are re-scheduled to conclude its meeting next week before this riotous picketing, stopping management members from entering their offices. “Unfortunately, ASSBIFI is aware that dialogue is on, yet, made a broadcast to its members to withdraw services against the ILO Principles at Work and the Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, forbidding such action when dialogue is on.
“It is to our chagrin that the same union which is part of the review of the said salary structure, already withdrawn by the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission(NSIWC) is the one calling out members for action on the same issue.”
The statement equally indicated that the management did not demote any staff as alleged by the union.
“It rather took step to correct the anomaly in the salary structure which was observed by the NSIWC.
“Hence, two wage band had been collapsed into one with adequate administrative procedure made to ensure none in any of the bands loses seniority in tandem with the nine (9)tier salary structure that obtains in the Public Service.
“It added that this was part of the conditions set by the NSIWC for an upward salary review and promotions in the fund.”
On the alleged non-promotion of staff as well as recruitment of new staff into the management cadre, the fund noted that “a total of one hundred and forty-five staff members were promoted to the management cadre while over 600 non-management staff were also promoted in the last two promotion exercises based on performance.
“In spite, where special skills set for a particular vacancy cannot be found within the fund, the NSITF had to source for such competence from outside the existing staff members to boost productivity in accordance with the law and public service rules.”
The statement equally dismissed claims that management staff members have been enjoying unapproved salaries and allowances since 2013 .
“The board of the fund via a circular entitled “Board Approved Increases in Salaries and Allowances” dated 27th August , 2013, approved increases in salaries and allowances of all staff.
“This applied until 2021 when the New Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment structure was effected for the NSITF, resulting in increases with effect from 2019, when the new minimum wage took off.”
The statement finally assured all staff members of the commitment of the fund to a continued social dialogue with the union members in line with the Trade Disputes Act and all relevant conventions of the ILO to adequately ventilate and amicably settle all disputes.

The Federal Capital Territory- Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has reminded taxpayers especially employers or agents in the FCT on the need to file their annual returns before the deadline of January 31, 2023 as the Service has no plan for extension.
A statement by the Head, Corporate communications, of the service Mustapha Sumaila warned that the service will not hesitate to apply the laws where necessary to penalise or punish any organisation, employer or agent who fails to meet up and file within the stipulated period as enunciated by law.

This exercise is “In compliance with Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2011 (as amended) provides that all employers of labour in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are required to file annual returns of income from All sources for the year ended, (31st December, 2022) on or before the 31st of January 2023 using the prescribed forms i.e Form G and Form H1 respectively.

“Sections 94, 95 and 96 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) stipulate penalties for non-filing, incorrect or false declaration and late submission.

“Copies of the forms (Form G and Form H1) can be obtained from any of the FCT-IRS Tax Offices across the territory or downloaded from the website at https://www.fctirs.gov.ng/downloads”