Tunde Fowler, the executive
chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), says the service has generated
N5 trillion in 50 weeks of 2018.
He added that the agency is at
the verge of making N5.3 trillion at the end of the year.
If the FIRS pools N5.3 trillion
revenue, that will be the highest revenue ever generated by FIRS in history.
The current highest in FIRS
history is N5.07 trillion generated in 2012.
Fowler’s generation of N5
trillion is significant as it was at a period when oil prices oscillated
between $50 and $70 per barrel, considering that they were at an average of
$100 to $120 per barrel between 2010 and 2013.
Speaking at the induction of new
members of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) on Wednesday in Abuja, Fowler said FIRS
has been able to record significant achievements following maximum support from
the presidency, ministry of finance, the JTB and other taxation stakeholders.
“This year, the FIRS, with the
support of the Presidency, Ministry of Finance, the JTB and other stakeholders,
has been able to generate up to N5 trillion. We believe that we should be able
to close at least at N5.3 trillion which should be the highest in the history
of FIRS,” he said.
“And we believe that with that
additional revenue, the state and federal governments would be able to provide
more services and more development to the people of Nigeria.
“Fowler urged the new inductees
to JTB to equip themselves with new ideas and embrace the Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) to be able to face the reality of revenue
collection in the ever-changing society.
“I see it as a privilege to be
addressing this class of inductees today as history has chosen you at this
critical point in time in our nations development to steer the ship of
sustainable revenue generation.
“While preparing for this
occasion, I came across an observation by the American inventor and author Ray
Kurzweil where he noted that the rate of scientific and technological change is
exponential rather than linear.
“This observation presupposes
that the better part of applied wisdom requires that in our journey of life we
are capable of identifying the most apt moment to know at what point to adapt
to the ever-tumultuous sea that modern existence represents.
“It also indicates that we should
be able to develop the ability to accept and embrace positive change, maybe due
to the fact that change is inevitable, but more significantly that oftentimes,
change presents us with the rare breaks that we can exploit to advance
individual and collective goals and objectives.”
The FIRS boss also stated that as
global society continues to transform in structure and process, especially with
new technologies and ways of doing things, the role that has been presented
before tax administrators in an emerging economy such as Nigeria are quite
enormous.
He said rather than being
overwhelmed by the rapid changes of the 21st century, taxmen should remain
undaunted and see the opportunities that are possible to us as a people in
general and as tax administrators in particular.
“I believe that history has
placed this responsibility on each and every one of us here today to be the
critical success factors in our quest towards ensuring sustainable revenue
generation for our various jurisdictions and for our country as well.
“Developments in global politics
and economics indicate a trend towards increased deemphasis on proceeds from
oil and other commodity exports.
“Huge investments are being made
everyday by more advanced economies towards seeking alternative energy sources;
and sooner rather than later, oil as a mainstay of the nation’s economy will
indeed no longer be sustainable, it is just a matter of time”, he added.
He further charged the JTB
members: “This address is not an all doom and gloom affair, far from it.
Rather, it is a clarion call to us all, especially you, our esteemed inductees,
that though the path before you may seem strewn with sticks and stones, further
down the road is a path paved with gold.
“To navigate to that path, we
will need to have courage, a courage borne of our innate convictions towards
being the tool for positive change in a time of economic uncertainty.
“The JTB presents a unique
platform for you to be that change. Your positive actions as the drivers of
revenue generation are capable of achieving much impact.
“They are capable of providing
the much needed funds that will provide the care that saves the life of that
infant who is born in the remotest parts of Birnin Magaji in Zamfara State.
“They can provide the funds that
ensures that a disadvantaged little child can have access to free quality
education in a government funded public school in Ijesa-Isu in Ekiti State.
“Your actions as drivers of
sustainable revenue generation in your respective jurisdictions beyond the
bigger picture can achieve the little things that bring about great outcomes in
the life of a nation.
“It is in the light of this that
I charge you, even as you speak the words of your Membership affirmation, that
you look beyond the immediate and see the deeper significance of your roles and
your responsibilities as members of the JTB.
“The modest achievements that we
have been able to accomplish in terms of internal revenue growth in recent time
only point to the fact of the immense possibilities before us.
“We are encouraged that the
results of the 9-month period in 2018 indicates that we shall be breaking new
boundaries by full year.
“However, we can only strive to
improve on our efforts and not rest on our oars. We can only become better at
what we do, and we can only do that by embracing the positive trends in tax
administration.
“Trends in automation,
professionalism, autonomy, service-oriented approach to the taxpayer and all
the positive trends that conform with international best practice.
“We are confident that by the end
of this exercise and after listening to the various presentations, we shall all
be better equipped for the task ahead of us”, he said.
Former Secretaries of JTB, Femi
Edgar, Mohammed Lawal Abubakar and the incumbent, Oseni Salawe Elamah made
presentations on the history and journey of the Board to the new inductees.
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