By Remi Johnson
The FCT Internal Revenue Services, FCT -IRS says it has generated a total of N252,825,484,775.71 billion in revenue collection for 2024, against the sum of 211,100,288,136.36 billion for 2023, as at December 18th this year.
The Acting Executive Chairman FCT- IRS, Mr Michael Ango who explained that the revenue generation in 2024 had surpassed the collection of 2023 by 19.8 percent, reiterated the commitment of the Service to implementing existing tax laws to further boost revenue generation.
Mr Ango assured that the rationale was not to over burden taxpayers by introducing any new laws, but rather carrying out their statutory obligation to harness all revenues accruable to FCTA for the development of the territory.
“We are not trying to over burden the FCT residents, but if those taxes already exist in our books, it is our duty and obligation under the law to ensure that we implement those taxes and we collect those revenues.
” In any case, any revenue that is collected is usually used as we can testify for the benefit of all of us “Ango said.
According to Ango, all is now set for the service to implement tax harmonisation from 2025, whereby, the FCT-IRS will collect all revenues on behalf of the six area councils to promote easy of doing business and to guard against the frustration of multiple taxation.
“Our vision is anchored on four pillars: People, Processes, Platforms, and Partnerships…These will drive our reforms, ensuring transparency, accountability, and world-class service delivery.
“We have different agencies in the FCT that collect revenue on behalf of the FCT Administration and these agencies sometimes or as the practice is right now collect all these revenue items individually.
“As we know, even globally this is not best practice and so the Minister has decided or has directed that all the agencies in the FCT must have one central point for revenue collection.
“However, this revenue will remain theirs. All we are doing is to assist them to collect and aggregate it. Thereafter the monies will be disbursed to them in their various accounts.” Ango assured.
Also, Mr. Ango revealed that FCT -IRS has finalised plans to collect 5% Entertainment Tax, collectible from relaxation grounds, parks, restaurants, event centres and other entertainment activities.
To achieve all these, Ango said the Service was collaborating with agencies and decentralising payment points especially for the low-income earners and also for those who are not within the city center.
Ango attributed the success recorded to the tireless efforts of staff, the support of the FCT Administration, and the collaboration with other stakeholders.
He highlighted other feats attained within the year to include the creation of specialized Audit, Debt Management, and Enforcement department, creation of High Net Worth Individuals (HNI) Unit to boost compliance, deployment of additional payment gateways and ongoing efforts to establish tax kiosks in strategic locations.
“Additionally in 2025 we will be setting up kiosk offices in various locations in the FCT including markets, parks, plazas.”
The FCT tax boss said the infrastructural strides of Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, including administrative remodeling by creating offices that were not in existence as well as the implementation of the minimum wage, all these required revenues.