By Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has declared its determination to put an end to the regime of multiple taxations in the Territory, following the coming on board of the Federal Capital Territory Inland Revenue Service (FCT-IRS).
The FCT Minister, Mohammad Musa Bello, who dropped the hint, on Tuesday, while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA), in his office, expressed confidence that the necessary machinery has been set in motion.
The Minister revealed that one of the quick wins expected from the recently reconstituted Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) will be the elimination of multiple taxations in the Territory and harmonisation of all taxes payable to government.
According to an emailed statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma, Bello noted that the issue of multiple taxations has been of great concern to various business entities in the FCT including NECA.
He added that eliminating the menace would enhance the ease of doing business in the FCT.
The Minister expressed optimism that the initiative by the FCT Administration to create a one-stop window for all taxes would key into the Federal Government’s programme of improving the position of Nigeria on the World Bank “Ease of Doing Business Index,” which he noted, has been improving positively recently.
“While we partner with the Chambers of Commerce, Manufacturers Association, and other stakeholders, we will also include you in the team that is working on this harmonisation,” he said.
Bello commended the group for their contributions towards the making of Abuja.
“History of Abuja cannot be written without acknowledging the efforts of all your members,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the Northern Group of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mahmud Othman informed the Minister that NECA is the umbrella body of all employers of labour in country which has been in existence for over 60 years since it was founded.
He commended the Minister for the noticeable progress, which FCT has been recording since his assumption of office, urging him to keep up the good works.
Othman, however, expressed concern over the multiplicity of vehicular stickers being produced by the different area councils in the territory, which he said has entailed a lot of inconvenience for the association’s members.
He, therefore, appealed to the Minister to see to it that these taxes are harmonised since the FCT is one territory.
