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Property owners besiege AGIS to pay ground rent in Abuja

Less than two weeks after the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, threatened to  revoke property allocations, owners have besieged the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) pay their ground rent.

Minister Wike had also threatened to publish the names of the defaulters in the national dailies.

 The minister also gave the defaulters two weeks after the publication to pay up or have their property revoked.

Debtors of ground rents were visiting the office in a bid to beat the ultimatum and avoid impending revocation of their property.

 The Acting Director of AGIS, Isiaku Ndatsu Alfa, confirmed to journalists that there has been a surge in payment of ground rents since the minister ordered the publication of the debtors in the national dailies and threatened to revoke the defaulters within two weeks.

According to him, collections from June to July were at lowest ebb, but immediately after the minister’s actions in August, ground rent earnings quickly rose to N500 million, growing steadily to over N1 billion.

He said, ‘’By September 17, ground rents has generated almost N2 billion for the FCT Administration, precisely N1.9 billion, and the figure is estimated to double by the end of the month.’’

In order to cope with the surge of customers into AGIS, the director revealed that additional laptops and computer systems have been procured; and redeployment of staff within sections have been effected to meet up with the minister’s two-week ultimatum.

Alfa stated that with the planned introduction of online payment portal for collection of ground rents, Certificate of Occupant (CoO) and others, transactions would be easier and more monies would be collected by AGIS.

He disclosed that the online payment app was already developed and an official launch was expected by the FCT minister before the end of this year.

 Alfa explained, “That platform will give you the freedom wherever you are, so that in the comfort of your home, you can log in and feed in some necessary information, which will lead to the payment of ground rent depending on the area and lines of your property.

“That is the way going forward, and very soon, we can launch that App into the remita, so the app will have an interface with the remita.

“This is the first time since the inception of the Federal Capital Territory that we have somebody at the helm of affairs who really cares about the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).”

 When pressed to reveal the number of those who have so far paid, he stated that the number was not constant, but the “Collection is about 300 per cent of what we collected before now”.

The Acting Director of Land Administration, FCTA, Jibril Adamu Husseini, applauded the minister for the decision, saying it is the only way to collect the over N34 billion debt.

He stated that non-payment of ground rents was “A breach of terms and breach of the condition of allocation.”

Daily Trust

fctirs

FCT-IRS generates N98bn in 7 months

Abuja, Aug. 1, 2023: Mr Haruna Abdullahi, Acting Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) says the service generated N98.6 billion between January and July, 2023.

Abdullahi made this known in a statement by Mr  Mustapha Sumaila, FCT-IRS Head of Corporate Communications in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the amount realised,  showed an increase from N65.8 billion generated within the same period in 2022.

Abdullahi thanked members of staff of the service for generating over N33 billion higher than the previous year’s collection.

According to him, it is an indication of effective strategies and practices.

The FCT-IRS acting boss said it was important for them to continue in their commitment in order to surpass the revenue target set for 2023.

He said the service under his leadership had been relentless in ensuring that remarkable results were achieved.

On the effect of fuel subsidy, Abdullahi said action would be taken within the provisions of the budget to improve staff wellbeing.

According to him, priority is being given to the welfare of staff, adding that their satisfaction is critical to meaningful contributions by the service.

“We are not unaware of the challenges confronting us, occasioned by subsidy removal.

“We are working on ways to ease the hardship and you know everything we do here depends on the budget.

“The management will do everything possible to ensure you have what is due.”

He further said the service had been monitoring the performance of healthcare providers to ensure quality healthcare for members of staff and their families.

“I am glad that almost all of you have started accessing it because your health is a priority to us.

“It is when you are healthy that you can contribute meaningfully to the service.

“The FCT-IRS remains devoted to its mission of efficient revenue collection, and its achievements stand as a testament to the dedication and hard work of its staff.

“With strategic management and commitment of each team member, the FCT-IRS is poised to further enhance revenue collection while contributing to the development of the FCT,” Abdullahi said.

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FCT declares no tax clearance, no car registration, building approval

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The Acting Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr Haruna Abdullahi, says FCT residents will henceforth present Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) to carry out certain transactions.

Abdullahi said this at a Town Hall Meeting organised by the service in Abuja.

The theme of the meeting is, “Demand and Verification of TCC by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Secretariat, Department and Agencies (SDAs), commercial banks and corporate bodies.

The acting chairman said it would no longer be business as usual for residents, adding that transactions such as obtaining of car registration and building approval would no longer be possible without TCC.

Other transactions that require TCC according to him include appointment or election into office, and stamping of guarantors form for a Nigerian passport among others.

“This gathering is timely and relevant as we aim to provide guidance and insight on the need to demand and verify a TCC.

“This is as stated in the information circular issued by the service on Nov. 4 and Nov. 7 in newspapers within the FCT and national dailies across the country,” he said.

The acting chairman urged FCT residents and relevant stakeholders to choose voluntary compliance over compulsion.

“It is imperative that a TCC is demanded as a pre-condition for various transactions in the FCT.

“It is also instructive to note that the law requires such from MDAs and commercial banks.

“Individuals and business owners residing in FCT can easily access a Tax Clearance through our effective and efficient channels,” he said.

He said failure of relevant agencies to demand and verify TCC presented by an individual could amount to sanctions.

Abdullahi said the sanctions could include conviction with a fine of five million Naira or three years imprisonment or both as stipulated by relevant tax laws.

The FCT-IRS boss said as the relevant tax authority for Personal Income Tax (PIT) administrations, the service had vital role in ensuring strict adherence.

Abdullahi urged FCT residents to choose voluntary compliance over compulsion, adding that compulsion would only be its last resort.

He said the service had trained its staff on effective monitoring and enforcement procedures.

Abdullahi also said that the members of staff had been trained to investigate violations of any aspect of the tax laws.

According to Abdullahi, while the service is working toward providing taxpayer-centred services, it will not hesitate to take punitive measures on defaulters.

On the process of verification, the acting chairman said the process was easy.

He said “an authenticator can easily scan the quick response (QR) code on the TCC using any android or IOS device to check the genuineness of the TCC.

“However, substantiating genuineness is not enough for revenue mobilisation.

“The relationship between the taxes paid as displayed on the TCC and the total and global income of individuals holding the TCC must align.

“For example, an application for estate development or building approval that presents a TCC with tax paid as low as N50,000 can never be justified.”

The FCT-IRS acting chairman said the service had deployed a variety of measures to ease taxpayer services, while leveraging on technology.

He said the filing of tax returns and making of payments had been fully automated.

He also said that the service had fully integrated with the Joint Tax Board (JTB) nationwide platform for uniformity of standards in application of PIT.

The town hall meeting had in attendance representatives of MDAs, SDAS, Council chairmen and other relevant stakeholders.

budget address

FCT’s budget of N607bn scales 2nd reading

The bill seeking for an Act to authorise the issue of N607,952,023,580 from the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund has scaled second reading at the House of Representatives.

The proposed budget is for the service of the FCT for the financial year commencing from Jan. 1 and ending on 31 December, 2022.

Presenting the Bill for second reading, the House Deputy Majority leader, Rep. Peter Akpatason said out of the amount, N76.6 billion was for personnel costs.

He said that N138 billion was for overhead costs while the balance of N393.1 billion was allocated for capital projects.

Akpatason said the amount was for the financial year commencing from Jan. 1 and ending on  Dec. 31st 2022.

Also, the lawmakers during its committee of the whole, considered and adopted the Senate report for a Bill for an Act to Establish Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS).

This is to prevent, combat forest crimes and enhance security within Nigerian Forests.

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FCT-IRS seeks collaboration with revenue agencies on funding FCT budget

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The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), says funding FCT budget entirely from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) sources was possible, with the collaboration of other revenue generating agencies.

This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday, in Abuja, signed by Mustapha Sumaila, Head of Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS.

Sumaila quoted the Acting Executive Chairman FCT-IRS, Mr Haruna Abdullah, as stating this when he received a delegation from the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), led by its Director, Mr Wadata Bodinga at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said that the Service had been championing the course of harmonising revenues from all revenue generating agencies in the FCT, with a view to blocking leakages, addressing multiple taxation and growing the FCT’s revenue base.

According to him, the effort would make the FCT have the capacity to fund its budget solely, through the Internally Generated Revenues.

“We hope to see that the FCTA funds its budget 100 per cent from the IGR, so that whatever comes from the Federal Government as allocation, would be a surplus for them.

“From the management to the board and all other stakeholders, this is what we want and would be excited about this development, talking and finding solutions.

“We are passionate about harmonisation, I mean to harmonise the whole collection processes,” he explained.

Abdullahi reassured the team of the Service’s continued support, stating that the FCT-IRS had been working tirelessly to raise and enhance the FCT’s revenue base.

He said in view of this, he would continue to extend his hand of friendship across all revenue generating agencies in the territory.

The Acting Chairman also said that the Service would review the priorities of DRTS, in order to identify more areas for sustainable collaboration in order to enhance revenue generation.

In his remarks, Bodinga said that the visit was targeted at three major areas; collaboration, support and training.

He stated that the DRTS, under his leadership, was committed to ensuring safety and orderliness in the FCT, as well as to strengthen the existing collaboration between the DRTS and FCT-IRS to boost revenue generation.

Highlighting the benefits of the collaboration between the DRTS and the Service, the FCT-IRS Director in charge of ICT, Oduba Oduba, stated that the collaboration would help in facilitating the exchange of data between revenue generating agencies.

Similarly, it would also improve road infrastructure through the revenue generated.

The Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, DRTS, Mr Wale Durojaye, expressed the readiness of the DRTS to provide data, reports and projections needed to facilitate FCT-IRS collection.

Meanwhile, a committee had been constituted to articulate and harmonise areas of possible collaboration between the two organisations, with a view to boosting revenue collection.

The members were: Mr Malik Tukur, FCT-IRS Director Taxes, Oduba Oduba, Director in charge of ICT, FCT-IRS, Mr. Wale Durojaye, the DRTS head of planning and the DRTS’ head of ICT, Mr Auwal Mohammed.

fctirs

FCT-IRS generates N118bn in 2021

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has commended the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) for generating N118 billion revenue in 2021.

The Head, Corporate Communications FCT-IRS, Malam Mustapha Sumaila made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

The President of the Institute, Mr Adesina Adedayo commended FCT-IRS when he paid a courtesy visit on the Acting Executive Chairman of Service, Mr Haruna Abdullahi.

Adedayo, who led a team of tax experts consisting of two former presidents of the institute, executives and members, said the visit was to formally inform and seek for support of the Service on the forthcoming 40th Anniversary of the institute.

He said that the visit would enable the institute notify the acting chairman about the 24th Annual Tax Conference scheduled to take place in Abuja and Lagos on Feb. 1 and 5, 2022 respectively.

Adedayo expressed joy on the achievements recorded by the FCT-IRS, saying that it was commendable that the service surpassed its target of N109 billion as at the end of November 2021.

According to him, it is a laudable feat to attain in spite of the COVID-19 and economic challenges posed on business and revenue generation in the country.

The institute’s president whose visit coincided with the last day of a four-day Tax Drive activities organised by FCT-IRS to create awareness, applauded the strategic approach deployed by the Service.

He lauded the sensitisation campaign with a road show as an enlightenment strategy which was meant to awaken and increase the tax-paying culture by both individuals and organisations.

Adedayo also stated that the institute would be looking forward to more collaboration with FCT-IRS in fostering a better working relationship.

He said he would put in place a joint technical committee for the purpose of advancing the revenue performance of the FCT-IRS through peer review and strategy session as well as consultative briefings.

In his remark, Dr Kayode Naiyeju, a former President of the Institute and also the former Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, commended the leadership of the FCT-IRS for providing a conducive environment for the tax payers.

He said that such an environment would excite those coming around to pay their taxes.

“I was excited when I came in to the premises because of how beautiful and well organised it is. Every taxpayer that walks into this building will be happy to have business with FCT-IRS,” Naiyeju said.

Responding, Abdullahi reiterated the service’s commitment in partnering with CITN and other relevant organisations to empower the personnel for effective service delivery.

He added that he would always welcome any form of partnership that would help to build the capacity of his staff with a view to attaining improved performance in the Service.

“FCT-IRS gives much priority to training and I am always willing and welcome any organisation, institute or individual that will collaborate in building the skills and capacities of his personnel,” he said.

On the Institute’s 40th Anniversary and Tax Conference, Abdullahi pledged to give necessary support and also mobilise the staff of the Service to participate in the historical events.

He expressed happiness over the visit of the CITN delegation led by its president.

He noted that FCT-IRS had been in partnership with the institute and would continue to work to sustain such collaboration for the betterment of FCT and the country in general.

The acting executive chairman described Naiyeju as a mentor, teacher and expert as far as the field of taxation was concerned, pointing out that being part of the delegation was a big motivation for him and indeed the Service.

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FCT-IRS remits N118b, targets N202bn in 2022

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The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) said that it remitted N118 billion into FCT Administration coffers as at November with a projection of N202 billion in 2022.

Acting Executive Chairman of the service, Mr Haruna Abdullahi, told newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday that the figure meant the organisation surpassed its target by 108 per cent.

“In spite of the challenges faced by the Service and FCT due to the impact of COVID-19, we were able to achieve and surpass our revenue target of N109 billion by 108 per cent as at the end of November 2021.

“With this, the Service has so far collected and remitted the sum of N118 billion,” Abdullahi said.

He also said that within the year under review, the Service engaged some consultants to conduct a six-year back duty tax audit of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), Enterprises and Corporate Organisations in the FCT.

Abdullahi said the engagement had 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.

“This is to address issues of wrong remittance, non-remittance and under-remittance 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 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 Dec. 10, 2021,” he said.

The acting chairman said the Service would not rest on it oars, until it becomes the highest sub-national revenue generating agency in the country.

He, therefore, solicited the support of all major stakeholders, including the media, in order to achieve the target.

“Though it is a huge task but with determination and commitment of Board members, management, staff and stakeholders like you, we shall achieve the 2022 target,” he said.

He said Service planned to embark on an aggressive public enlightenment campaign to educate and mobilise prospective taxpayers with a view to boosting the revenue base of the FCT.

The acting chairman explained that since the inception of the Service, it had been educating and sensitising the residents and taxpayers to their civic responsibilities.

Abdullahi said that in 2022 in collaboration with the relevant law enforcement agencies the Service would also embark on enforcement of it mandates.

“This is in accordance with section 8 and Part V of the FCT-IRS Act 2015. This resolve has become necessary to address defaulters who insist on short changing the FCT Administration“, he said.

FCT Minister

FCT minister presents N64b budget for 2022

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mr Mohammed Bello, has presented the sum of N64,861,604,695.00 as budget for 2022, tagged, “National Priority Projects’’.

Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Chief Press Secretary to the minister, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said presented the FCT’s 2022 National Budget to the Joint Senate and House Committees on the FCT at the National Assembly.

The minister explained that the figure was contained in the 2022 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 7, 2021.

Bello added that the National Budget estimates of the FCT leveraged the 2021-2022 Medium Term National Plan (MTNDP) of the Federal Government.

He also said that the priority of the of the MTNDP was the completion of on-going critical projects that would have the greatest impact on the citizenry.

According to him, the 2022 FCT budget estimates targets the sustained completion of 18 priority projects both within the Federal Capital City (FCC) and the satellite towns.

” Some of these priority projects include the installation of solar street lights along various roads in the satellite towns; provision of roads, water and electricity supplies to the resettlement site of Galuwyi Shere (Phase II).

” Rehabilitation and upgrading of street lighting facilities within the FCC; Design/ construction of dam, treatment plant, tanks and other bulk water supply infrastructure to Karshi; Abuja Light Rail Transit Phase II Addendum 1-2 (2)

” And the Rehabilitation of Federal Government Buildings amongst others,” he said.

Speaking further on the importance of some of the projects, Bello said that the construction of the Mpape –Shere Galuwyi road was a bold initiative of the FCT Administration to ensure a successful resettlement process of original inhabitants in about 16 communities.

” While the implementation of the Abuja Light rail Mass transit Phase II Addendum 1-2 (2) will fund the completion of a remaining 5.76km rail line thereby extending the rail line from Baizango to the Kubwa station.”

He said that the Greater Abuja Water supply project was a bilateral initiative to enhance water supply in the FCT and its implementation would extend the supply of potable water to 33 Districts covering Gwarimpa, one and two Utako, Dutse, Gudu Kaura, Wuye, Mabushi, Jahi, Kado , Karmo, Lokogoma, Kabusa, Dape amongst others.

On the performance of the 2021 National Budget, Bello said that the 2021 Appropriation Act had allocated the sum of N37, 430,762,421.00 for infrastructure development activities of the FCT Administration as of date.

The minister said, a total sum of N30,147,069,087.06 had been released representing a budget performance of 81 per cent.

” While the actual utilisation as at September 30 2021 stood at N18,350, 329,852.46 representing 60% of the sum released.”

Bello disclosed that there was a need to increase the FCT’s budgetary allocation, saying that the FCT should be considered as a national project.

He also said that the FCT was performing well in its revenue generation drive as it was now only second to Lagos State in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Members of the FCT team to the National Assembly includes; the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister