Abuja: The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has sought collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to enhance tax compliance in the territory. The acting Executive Chairman of the Service, Mr. Michael Ango, proposed the partnership during a visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ango explained that the partnership aligns with the FCT-IRS’s mandate to work with relevant agencies like the EFCC to improve tax compliance within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He disclosed that one of the key initiatives for 2025 is the harmonisation of revenue collection and administration in the FCT, a goal that requires collaboration with stakeholders, including anti-graft agencies.
Ango emphasized that ensuring all due revenue is collected and accounted for transparently is crucial for enhancing the ease of doing business and boosting revenue generation. This effort, he noted, supports the infrastructural development in the territory under FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. He pointed out that many suspects investigated by the EFCC for financial crimes are not tax compliant and suggested that their tax obligations be reviewed as part of the EFCC’s investigations.
He further proposed that the interrogation of tax compliance could extend to the forfeiture of assets or monies to the EFCC by court orders. Ango expressed a desire to understand the tax compliance levels of suspects under investigation or prosecution, suggesting that collaboration with the EFCC could offer an alternative method of enforcement, similar to their existing partnership with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
During the visit, Ango also extended condolences to the EFCC on the recent loss of one of its operatives and praised the commission’s efforts in combating financial crimes. In response, EFCC Chairman Olukoyede expressed gratitude for the visit and reiterated the commission’s willingness to partner with the FCT-IRS to bolster revenue collection in the FCT. He noted that the EFCC has established similar collaborations with other revenue services, such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Olukoyede emphasized the importance of formalizing the collaboration with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would delineate the specific areas of cooperation and strengthen the relationship between the FCT-IRS and EFCC. He also acknowledged Ango’s achievements since his appointment as the FCT-IRS head and commended the ongoing infrastructural development in the FCT, attributing it to the judicious use of taxpayer funds.