By Gift Chapi-Odekina
The Association of Concerned Citizens of Nigeria on Revenue and Economy (ACCNRE) has called on the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari to fast track the passage of the National Inspector General for Tax Crimes Commission Bill (NIGTCC) into Law.
The National Coordinator ACCNRE, Orji Philip, who made the appeal at the weekend in Abuja said the passage of the bill is very paramount adding that a dishonest, regressive and weak taxation system is a threat against humanity, economy, security and democracy.
According to him, the bill if passed into law will protect the FIRS employee improprieties and external attempts to corrupt or threaten FIRS employees.
Other benefits of the bill he said includes: “To provide policy direction, conduct, supervise and coordinate audits and investigations related to FIRS programmes and operations.
“Review existing and proposed legislation and regulations related to FIRS programmes and operations and make recommendations concerning the impact of such legislations or regulations, promote economy and efficiency in the administration of the tax laws.
“Inform the auditor general and the legislative congress of problems and deficiencies identified and of the progresses made in resolving them.
” We have the potential, capability to progress and equally promote our economy through taxation?
YES, we have the market size as an advantage, we have the untapped areas, such as international taxation, property tax, proper remittance of withholding taxes, VAT and consumption taxes with the modern information technology.
“If my suggestions, recommendations and my five years strategic framework can be implemented, we shall witness a tremendous inflow of tax revenue of over 30% ratio to our GDP.
” Observation, showed, that this type of tax revenue economic recovery methods, has been tested in USA, from 1972 – 1998, the USA was the highest in the increment on tax rates, yet the IRS was not able to make any improvement in meeting its target in tax revenue, generating just 900billion to 1.2 trillion dollars annually, before TIGTA came on board in 1998, that was when their MPs became surprised that the tax revenue hit 2 trillion dollars in 1999, President Gorge Bush, President Barrack Obama and President Donald Trump all did what they call TAX CUT (tax reduction), yet the tax revenue of the USA continued to grow higher, now the tax revenue of the USA is close to 4 trillion dollars per annum.
“There’s no country in the world that was able to adopt the global best practice of transparent, efficient and accountable taxation system that did not grow economically.
“I want to use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that there is hope and that our future is very bright, I also want to plead with our NGO’s such as the NLC, ASUU, NBA, NUJ, NANS, Nigeria Women organizations, our Royal Fathers (the Kings) and our Religious Leaders, to join my group and I to persuade.
“In that regard, our expectations for a wonder Performing President come 2023 will amount to nothing without a restructured, proactive taxation system that is transparent and accountable, because who ever wins as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023, obviously, the person is not coming to ASO Rock with his or her own money, in that regard there is no partisan politics when it comes to taxation business. He added.
