By Chika Otuchikere
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has raised alarm over activities of fake tax officials who hide under the guise of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) to defraud unsuspecting tax payers.
The minister’s special adviser on media and communication, Mr Oluyinka Akintunde, made this known Sunday, in a statement in which he said the minister advised tax payers to demand for written notice when they receive phone calls from tax officials.
a�?My attention has been drawn to reports of some unidentified tax officials requesting for bank details and address of tax payers.
a�?If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Tax Office, do not panic. Ask them to send you a written notice. Do not provide any details like your address or bank details,a�? Adeosun urged.
Meanwhile, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has honoured a consistent tax payer, Elder Lema Jibrin.
Jibrin was honoured during the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) Sensitisation programme in Kaduna last Thursday.
The Kaduna State Governor noted that Jibrin had consistently paid tax to the government for 40 years.
a�?Elder Lema Jibrin, the Dan Iyan Katsina, is the most tax compliant Nigerian. He has been paying his taxes consistently for 40 years and has not relented or evaded the payment of taxes,a�? el-Rufai said.
Adeosun praised Elder Jibrin for his consistency and diligence in tax payment, and urged tax payers to utilise the amnesty programme of the Federal Government to regularise their tax profiles
VAIDS: Adeosun raises alarm over fake tax officials
