500 NIGERIANS WHO EVADED TAX SEE

Federal Government uncovers 500 Tax evaders

 

 

  FROM ODINAKA EZEOKA.
Federal Government has compiled the list of 500 Nigerians  who evaded tax, some of them are prominent citizens who settle abroad and ask them to pay up immediately.

 This was disclosed by Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who informed the National Economic Council yesterday about the list adding that those who also have trusts abroad has been obtained to determine their tax compliance status at home.  She explained further that such Nigerians have opportunity to take advantage of the Voluntary Assets & Income Declaration Scheme, VAIDS, to pay up past taxation defaults.

She said that Letters would soon be sent to every  Nigerians involves  including a number of prominent ones, asking them to take advantage of the tax amnesty in order to avoid prosecution and fines by simply paying up their tax defaults. The amnesty is available till March next year.

During the Council meeting which was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, an Ad-Hoc Committee, a creation of the council, reported that a number of revenue-generating agencies may have significantly under-remitted returns to the Federation Account, from 2010 to 2015.

The Council had previously ordered the forensic audit to review remittances of the agencies covering 2010 to May 2015. While Council received an updated interim report today, a final report is awaited next month.  Council was also informed of questionable loans granted by some of the Revenue Generating Agencies.  Out of the 18 Agencies in which forensic audit was conducted, the Committee completed work on 13 Agencies, 2 are ongoing and 3 are not revenue generating.

The 13 agencies where the audit had been completed include: NIMASA, NNPC, NPA, FIRS, NPDC, DPR, etc.  The 2 outstanding agencies are the Customs Service and NCC.  The National Economic Council has directed the Committee to conclude its report under 4 weeks and fully report back to Council in the next meeting.