PRESS RELEASE
FIRS NETS N4.03 TRILLION IN 2017
…collects N720 billion more than 2016 collection
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has collected a total of N4.03 trillion in 2017 representing 82.38% of government set target of N4.89 trillion.
FIRS’ collection of N4.03 trillion is N720 billion (22%) more than the 2016 total collection figure of N3.305 trillion. The 2017 collection performance exceeded the 2016 collection performance of 78.75%.
Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Tunde Fowler disclosed the collection figures today in Lagos at the historical ‘Idugaran’, the palace of the His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I.
It was during the visit by members of the House of Representatives, institutional board members of the FIRS and some members of the State Boards of Internal Revenue Service to seek the royal father’s blessing and seek for his wise advice.
The FIRS Management retreat was in conjunction with Stakeholders/National Assembly.
Said Fowler: “With the support of the National Assembly, your support and that of other stakeholders, FIRS was able to collect over N4 trillion in 2017. This is an increase of over 20 per cent relative to our collection in 2016. We are hopeful that (NASS) going forward, FIRS will be able to fund this country through taxation.
Going back memory lane, the FIRS Chairman recalled that when he was the Lagos Internal Revenue Service, LIRS Executive Chairman in Lagos, the Oba played an important role in tax collection. Apart from supporting LIRS morally, Fowler recalled that Oba Akiolu mandated the White cap chiefs to accompany LIRS officials to key markets and most parts of Lagos to sensitise the people on tax collection.
When the retreat opened, the FIRS Chairman shed light on FIRS’ collection in 2017: “We all recall that beginning from the second half of 2014, there has been a sustained decline in the global prices of oil. Oil Revenue Generated by FIRS in 2014 – 2.45 Trillion; Oil Revenue Generated in 2015 – N1.29 Trillion; FIRS Oil Revenue Generated in 2016 – N1.16 Trillion; FIRS Oil Revenue Generated in 2017 – N1.52 Trillion
“This trend has had adverse effect on the ability of oil dependent countries to meet their development objectives.
“For us in Nigeria, the decline in receipts from oil revenue and the concomitant decline in accruals to States from the Federation Account has placed many States in a financial quandary to the point where basic obligations such as the payment of employee wages has become a perennial challenge. This is not the first time Nigeria will experience economic slow-down as a result of fluctuations in global oil prices.
“This retreat, and what it hopes to achieve is part of efforts to ensure that we act differently this time around by looking beyond oil as the mainstay of our economy. By putting our hands together in contribution to our set goal, I am confident that we will surpass our past results and we’ll be well on our way to the future we hope to achieve.
Fowler noted that though collection increased by 20 per cent relative to 2016, the Cost of Collection went down to 2.49 per cent in 2017 relative to the 2.60 per cent cost of collection in 2016 and 2.62 in 2015. This, the FIRS Chairman noted, attests to the growing efficiency in collection by the Service and to which the embrace of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) tools contributed.
“Chairman House Committee on Finance Hon. Babangida Ibrahim thanked Oba Akinolu for always supporting collection of taxes under Fowler in Lagos and now at the national level.
His counterpart at the Senate, Distinguished Senator John Owan Enoh spoke along the same lines of plaudits for the Oba for his support. Enoh thanked the “Now that he is on a and higher assignment, Enoh was hopeful that the Oba will continue to support him. We leave here with the hope that other traditional rulers will take lead from Lagos and support tax collection.
“You have demonstrated deep knowledge of Nigeria. We are happy that someone like you sits on the revered throne of Lagos. I also bring you greetings from the Distinguished Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
“I want to congratulate you on preserving and elevating the culture of Lagos State. It is very interesting to hear the Executive Chairman commended you on matters of taxation. We have to look at how much the traditional institution can come in handy in our national development. I would like to take this opportunity to extend our good wishes to the entire people of Lagos State.”
HRH, the Oba of Lagos told the visitors, “Ask and it shall be answered, knock and it shall be opened, seek and it shall be found. The Almighty gives power to whom he wills. I swear to you that since the day I swore on the Holy Quran when I was installed on this throne I have not taken any nonsense from anyone.
“I commend the 8th Assembly for not being a rubber-stamp assembly. God has something better in store for this country. By the grace of Allah our President will deliver. Nigeria now needs good governance that will deliver development to the people. FIRS has collected N4 trillion and they will collect more in the future. The legacy that Tunde Fowler has made in Lagos is still felt but you have more work to do
Oba Akinolu noted that Lagos does not discriminate against anybody just as the state will not accept any injustice from any quarters.
The royal father who noted that 60 or 70 per cent of FIRS collection comes from Lagos, said he is sending a letter to Senate President Bukola Saraki to draw his attention to the 1851 treaty, which the colonial government signed with Oba Akintoye: that three per cent of all taxes collected in Lagos will go to the Oba, while 2 per cent of all exports will go to Oba Akintoye. “While I am not asking that this be paid to me now, it could be paid to the Lagos State Government”.
The Oba who says he lives by example as he pays as much as N350 million in tax every year.
He enjoined Senators and members of the House of Reps to dialogue with and give, President Mohammadu Buhari a chance as he loves Nigeria. He also called on the federal parliamentarians to support the anti-graft war by confirming the Economic and Financial Commission Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.
Nigeria, the monarch assured will not break.
The Service contributed N2.78 trillion to the Federation Accounts. This represents 99.5% of the target for 2017 (7.5% higher than 2016 performance).
An analysis of the collection performance indicates that non-oil accounted for 63% while oil tax accounted for 38% of the total collection. Stamp Duty recorded the most increase in performance with 94%.
The achievements recorded by Service from the administrative and operational initiatives introduced by the Executive Chairman, Tunde Fowler in 2015 and 2016 to reposition the agency.
The 2018 Ease of Doing Business report, released by the World Bank Group late last year, shows that Nigeria moved up 11 places in terms of the ease of paying taxes. This contributed to Nigeria’s movement by 24 points/places in the (from 169th to 124th position in the Ease of Doing business globally.
The initiatives which directly impacted on business owners, implemented by the Service with the support of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) contributed to Nigeria’s upward movement in global ease of doing business ranking.
Wahab Gbadamosi
Head, Communications and Servicom Department
Federal Inland Revenue Service
22nd January, 2017
