The Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr. Michael Ango, has called for an enhanced collaboration with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to improve tax compliance within the Federal Capital Territory. This appeal was made during a courtesy visit to the NFIU’s Chief Executive Officer, Hajiya Hafsa Abubakar, on Tuesday.
a statement by Head of Corporate Communications, Mustapha Sumaila, quoted Mr. Ango to have emphasized the NFIU’s role as a critical stakeholder in the FCT-IRS’s efforts to bolster revenue collection and administration. He acknowledged the existing partnership between the two organizations but expressed a desire for a more robust relationship that would benefit both entities and the broader community.
“This visit aims to strengthen our collaboration and share insights that will enhance our operational effectiveness,” Ango stated, highlighting the importance of exchanging data and information to streamline their processes.
In her response, Hajiya Hafsa Abubakar congratulated Ango on his new role and welcomed the initiative for closer cooperation. She underscored the NFIU’s commitment to combatting tax evasion, which she described as a serious offense that undermines government resources needed for public investments in health, education, and social services.
“The NFIU recognizes the critical importance of tax compliance, particularly at the sub-national level, where public investment demands are high. Our partnership with the FCT-IRS serves as a model for collaboration that we are expanding with other state revenue services,” Abubakar noted.
She expressed confidence that under Mr. Ango’s leadership, the FCT-IRS would continue to achieve significant progress, setting a standard for efficiency and integrity in revenue generation. Abubakar also mentioned the NFIU’s willingness to leverage Ango’s expertise in law and taxation to further enhance their operational capabilities.
According to her, the NFIU recognises that tax crimes particularly tax evasion is a serious offence, because it denies the government the resources it needs to invest in infrastructure and pay for services that contribute to wellbeing and prosperity of citizenry.
“We also recognise that this issue is particularly important at the sub national level due to the huge demand of public investment particularly health, education and social services, this led to our decision to explore partnerships with state internal revenue services.
“I am pleased that the FCT-IRS is one of our first and indeed our most effective partner in this regard. The relationship we established with your office serves as a groundbreaking model and we are now working with about 24 other state revenue services, we believe our efforts is making a significant contribution to domestic revenue mobilisation across the federation” she stated.
She said her agency would be willing to tap from the experience and knowledge of the Acting Executive Chairman in law, taxation and other areas of expertise to further enhance their operations.
The meeting marked a significant step toward fostering greater cooperation between tax and financial intelligence authorities, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s domestic revenue mobilization efforts.