The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said on Thursday that its responsibility is to collect revenue for the government and not to keep records of how the money is spent by the government.
Executive Chairman of the Service, Muhammed Nami who spoke while appearing before the Special Adhoc Committee investigating Petroleum Subsidy Regime said the responsibility of government was to spend the money collected and is not bound to report to the service on such expenditure.
Represented FIRS Coordinating Director, Compliance Support Group, Dr. Dick Irri, the FIRS boss said the role of the service as provided by its Establishment Act was confined to the assessment of taxpayers, collection of taxes, accounting for and enforcement of taxes that were due to the government of the Federation.
“The Service’s statutory functions remains that of assessment, collection, accounting, and enforcement of payment of taxes that are due to the government of the federation and any of its agencies; taxes collected by the FIRS are usually shared amongst the three tiers of the government in line with the constitution of the country; and FIRS does not maintain records of what the funds are used for by the three tiers of government. The service also does not have the power to ask for such records.”
The Executive Chairman said the request by the Committee for information on subsidy payments and releases were not tax related, and thus were not within the statutory powers of the Service to respond to.
“The service holds the Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Products subsidy Regime and other Committees of the National Assembly in high esteem and will always give necessary support to ensure the success of their oversight functions;
“All the tax related information requested on your letter dated 1st July, 2022 has been duly submitted;
“All the 16 items listed on your letter dated 5th August 2022 are not tax related and also are not part of the responsibilities of the Service,” the FIRS Executive Chairman said.
Apologising for his inability to appear in person, the Executive Chairman stated that his absence was due to other official national engagements outside the Federal Capital Territory.
The Special Ad-Hoc Committee on Petroleum Products Subsidy Regime, chaired by Arc Ibrahim Al-Mustpaha Aliyu was constituted in June 2022 with a mandate to investigate the Petroleum Products Subsidy Regime covering the periods from 2013-2021.
