Sequel to the historic assent by President Goodluck Jonathan to the Act establishing the FCT Internal Revenue Service Board, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (CON) has today inaugurated the Board.
The new Board is chaired by Mr. Ari, Isa Mohammed with the Director of Treasury as the Deputy Chairman of the Board. The members are Mr. Ese Stephen representing South-South; Mrs. Modupeola Akin-Deko-South-West; Mr. Sashe Dabana- North-Central; Alhaji Abdullahi Salhu Yari- North-East; Mrs. Ifeyinwa Rita Njokanma- South-East; Hamza Adamu Buwei- North-West.
Other members include Director of Legal Drafting, Director of Lands, Director of Area Councils, Coordinator of Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre, Director of Economic Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Cosmos Uzodinma, Assistant Director, (Information) while Barrister Boma Ayerite will serve as secretary and an Ex-Officio member of the Board.
The Minister reiterated that this inauguration is a significant one for this Administration because the Board is an enabler to the development of this City; recalling that the struggle started since 2004.
He declared that the Board is expected to net about N400 billion internally generated revenue annually which will go along way in accelerating infrastructural development in the Federal Capital Territory especially the Satellite Towns in accordance with the vision of the founding fathers of Abuja.
Senator Mohammed noted that the FCT Internal Revenue Service Board now has the responsibility of assessment, collection of, and accounting for, revenues accruable to the Federal Capital Territory as well as for other related matters.
According to him, this is an important milestone achievement of the Transformation Agenda to the Territory that will guarantee its sustainable funding.
“The dwindling revenue from oil arising from the volatility of the market has necessitated the urgent need for government to pursue other sources of revenue, which will guaranty a sustainable development,” he added.
The Minister emphasized that the budgetary allocation to the FCT in the last decade has been on a steep decline, which has constrained its efforts toward realizing the aspiration of making the FCT one of the best cities in the world.
Senator Mohammed restated that the FCT Administration’s financial profile has presented a grim picture of over N1 trillion commitments to be paid within the 30 year Infrastructure plan and the government has to be proactive.
He revealed that the Administration has turned its challenges into opportunities by increasing revenues through the establishment of this Board thus facilitating the implementation of our budget. He added that the Administration has painstakingly gone far and wide to appraise individuals with capacity, competence and integrity in accordance with the Act.
The Minister said “it is my utmost belief that with the establishment of this Board and the appointment of members, the FCT revenues will rise but not by increasing tax rates because we are a pro-people administration but by strengthening the tax administration. With this Board, the FCT Administration will begin to plug leakages, increase the tax base and improve tax collection efficiency. We are one more step closer to achieving our vision of being one of the 20 best capital cities in the World”.
He advised the chairman and members of the FCT Board to bring a blend of their professionalism, integrity and administrative skills to bear in nurturing this new organization.
The Minister remarked that in accordance with Part I Sec. 3 (2)(a) and Part I Sec. 3 (3) of the Act, Mr. ARI, Isa Muhammad is appointed as the Chairman of the Board.
Responding, the Chairman of the FCT Internal Revenue Service Board, Mr. Ari Isa Mohammed thanked the Minister, Minister of State and Permanent Secretary for finding him and his team worthy for this important appointment.
Mr. Ari Mohammed noted the high expectations of the FCT Administration in the ability of the FCT-IRS Board to quickly restore FCT from the huge existing expenditure deficit in terms of socio-economic, infrastructure and other related development.
Mr. Ari is an alumni of the prestigious Harvard Business School, a Professional Accountant, Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Economist and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Administration. The Chairman is the immediate past Director of Economic Planning Research and Statistics in the FCT Administration, a Department he was saddled with its establishment 6 years ago. Within its existence, the Federal Executive Council has acknowledged the performance of the Department in one of its sittings. The Department coordinated the winning of the prestigious Award of Excellence in Public Service by the United Nations in 2013 (in Bahrain) to Nigeria.
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu FNSE, the Executive Secretary of FCDA, Engr. Adamu Ismaila, mandate secretaries, Area Council Chairmen and some top government functionaries of the FCT Administration, also attended the inauguration ceremony.
