Strong Institutions, Key to Boosting Revenue Generation -FCT-IRS Boss

By: Wisdom Acka

Strengthening of institutional framework is a pre-requisite for increased revenue generation and collection.

Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Haruna Abdullahi has said.

Abdullahi added that it was this realization that prompted the management of the Service to place priority on strengthening the institutions relating to tax collection and administration.

The FCT-IRS boss stated this while delivering a key note address at the Annual Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Members, Partner Employers and Students Summit 2023 in Abuja.

He stressed that, the FCT-IRS,in the past two years under him, has been focusing on building a strong and robust system that would outlive them, thereby, making processes and procedures of tax administration easier and seamless with a view to enhancing tax collections.

He words: “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 as mobilise prospective taxpayers to be in tax net”, he added.

According to him, the Service has also improved upon its engagement with major stakeholders, as it constantly updates and educates them on decisions, direction and introduction of any policy in order to carry them along.

He remarked that staff capacity building has been, more than ever before, an utmost priority for the Service; believing that the Service could not attain efficient and committed workforce without the staffers being 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 reiterated.

Addressing students at the Summit, the FCT-IRS boss informed them of the importance of mentorship in making career choices; adding that guides from their mentors would go a long way in shaping their career paths.

Abdullahi stressed 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.