The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, have pledged their commitment to work with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in the implementation of the Finance Act 2020. The collaboration is in relation to some of the amendments to the Act that have implications for agencies under the ministry, especially regarding the provision of information for tax purposes and deployment of technology for tax operations in the country, among others.
The agencies made the pledge at the meeting of an inter-agency committee set up by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, to discuss areas of collaboration between the agencies and the tax body.
Chaired by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, the membership of the committee comprises the Executive Chairman of FIRS and heads of agencies in the ministry. The Committee was set up to discuss critical areas of synergy for the implementation of key provisions in the amended Finance Act 2020 as they affect the operations of the agencies in the ministry.
Speaking at the interactive session, Danbatta stated that “the objective of the interactive session is to deliberate on areas of collaboration between agencies in the ministry and FIRS for the common good of the economy.” Also speaking, FIRS Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami, said: “We have come here to emphasize the need for cooperation and collaboration among the various agencies in terms of revenue generation to move the nation forward.”
Accordingly, heads of agencies in the ministry in attendance at the meeting made their contributions with respect to the implementation of the new finance law. They are the Post-Master General, Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Dr. Ismail Adewusi, and the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi.
Other contributors during the interactive session include the Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar; Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Dr. Abimbola Alale and the representative of the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and Dr. Nonye Nwachukwu, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics at the ministry.
Two sub-committees were later formed to deliberate on specific areas that require further dialogue for effective collaboration towards the implementation of the new tax law as it affects agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. They are the committees on FIRS/NIPOST and FIRS/NITDA. The two committees are expected to complete their assignment and make recommendations for consideration by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.
Add Comment