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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has marked its special day at the 13th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, going on at the Isaac Boro Park, with pomp.
In an opening remark, the 2nd deputy president of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce (PHCCIMA), Chief Sir Mike Elechi, who represented the president, Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, noted that FIRS and the chamber of commerce have a long history of relationship. This, he said, is seen in the fact that PHCCIMA has in its fold tax compliant companies that regularly interface with the revenue agency, as well as FIRS’ consistent participation in the chamber’s organized trade fair.
He said PHCCIMA, as the second largest and most vibrant chamber of commerce in Nigeria, has continued to support business, trade and industry in the state, region and country at large through policy advocacy, trade mission and advisory services to her teeming membership, including other stakeholders.
“As a chamber we also partner with tax administrations in many ways, helping to spread the mantra of responsible citizenship while challenging the government to be accountable to the people in the way and manner tax revenue is being spent,” he said.
He congratulated the Federal Inland Revenue Service for marking their special day at the fair, and requested as a matter of importance the need for them to intensify effort at averting incessant cases of multiple taxation, impersonation of personnel, with critical effort needed to harmonize the taxing system to be more transparent, flexible with continuous improvement exercise geared towards making tax compliance stress-free.
PHCCIMA’s treasurer, Dr. Maraizu Uche urged FIRS to establish a toll free complaint/inquiry line where people can easily reach out to them to get need information and clarify on issues.
In his remark, the FIRS coordinator in charge of Rivers and Edo states, Mr. Joel Onowakpo, described the theme for the trade fair: ‘Nigeria Industrial Sector Beyond Oil’ as ideal, given that the state is aggressively refocusing its energies to build a strong industrial sector that looks beyond oil and embraces other sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture and services with diversification in exports and domestic production to foster economic growth.
Onowakpo disclosed that FIRS is supporting the review of the National tax policy, and is advocating for the simplification, harmonization and streamlining of processes, levies and taxes at state and local government levels.
He also disclosed that the agency is reviewing operational regulations to permit tax payers to file tax returns online in any of their office convenient.
He said presently they have created a department known as the federal engagement and enlightenment tax team (FEET) to drive public awareness and engagement campaigns, saying that department is anchoring our participation in this fair and directly engages the business community, stakeholders and the general populace in order to increase tax awareness and compliance.
“We have deployed 6 online solutions – e-stamp duty, e-tax payment, e-receipt, e-filing, e-registration and e-TCC, and we are currently working on full deployment of tax software designed to enable swift processing and analysis of data, all to improve quality of service to tax payers,” he said.
