The Federal Government has said its intention to harmonise taxes across the country is targeted at generating more revenue and reducing the burden bore by tax payers as a result of multiple taxation.

The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Mohammed Nami stated this in Abuja during an interview with journalists at the 153rd meeting of the Joint Tax Board, with the theme: “Harmonisation and codification of taxes at the national and sub-national levels, key to achieving a more friendly environment in Nigeria”

Nami agreed with the school of thought that says that more taxes does not translate to more revenue while also lauding the commitment of the present administration in taking the lead to tax Harmonisation.

“what we want to do is to reduce those number of taxes, block leakages in the tax system. So going forward, the local government Chairman, going forward, the state governors going forward, Mr. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will have more money to build critical infrastructure and provide social services to our people, including schools, best hospitals and secure lives and properties of our citizens”.

Speaking on the timeline and sincerity to unify taxes and eliminate multiple taxation, Mr. Nami restated government’s commitment saying he has the buy-in of state governors on the actualisation of this initiative.

“But we are going to take concrete action in that direction. By the grace of God, this is not another promise that will not be fulfilled. This is not going to be another talk show. Government has already announced the constitution of a presidential committee. Recently I was happy to speak with the governors to solicit for their support so that we realize this in good time. We’re very confident
that the inauguration of the committee tomorrow by Mr. President means that we’re going to start work immediately”.

Nami further said proper work is ongoing to ensure that the informal sector is not overburdened with tax but create exemptions for them in order to keep the sector in operation.

“We are making sure that those that have Engine services that are not taxable have no need to pay; those that are doing trade in goods like tomatoes, trading in goods like raw material, raw food items on the farms are not made to pay taxes; those that are not doing enough turnover of at least N25 million, allowed by law are not made to pay VAT or company Income tax. So we’re doing a lot and as we continue to work with the media and other critical stakeholders, God willing, it will be better for our country”.

The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee Chairman,
Taiwo Oyedele while proffering the solution to overspending and discrepancies in the salaries of heads of agencies of government, said the only way is to have a sole collector of government’s revenue, which in this case is FIRS.

“Revenue service will collect for them and the government through the established process gives them how much they need. And my appeal to the government also is, if you approve the budget of an agency, release the funds so that people will stop creating their own taxes here and there which is killing business.

“Because they were fully in charge of the amount they collected, they had to find a way to spend it. Stopping them from collecting revenue lets them focus on their primary mandate,” he said.