ICPC Seeks Partnership With FIRS To Tackle Financial Tax Fraud
L-R: Chairman, The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu and Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Saach Adedeji, in a handshake during ICPC Chairman’s visit to Revenue House in Abuja. Photo/story Credit: radionigeria.gov.ng.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) have commenced talks to mitigate financial tax frauds and other corrupt vices.
A statement by the ICPC signed by Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, said the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu made this known while on courtesy visit to Headquarters of FIRS on Thursday.
Dr. Aliyu said there was need for effective collaboration to deepen mutual cooperation and efforts for greater impact in the anti-corruption drive.
The ICPC Chairman said that the essence of the visit was to discuss three areas of collaboration that would help to tackle corruption most especially the ones that are tax related.
“First of all, there are three critical areas which we need to look at. First to consider is the issue of sharing information between the two organizations and integration of technology. We need to set up a structured process of regular information sharing between us so as to detect potential corruption or fraudulent activities in tax-related matters,” the statement quoted the ICPC boss.
He thereafter highlighted other areas of Importance for collaboration in the statement.
In the statement, Dr. Aliyu raised joint investigation and legal reforms to prevent tax evasion and other means of fraud.
“Then the last is the issue of capacity building, which is very important because no organisation can perform its function effectively without the support of the government,” he noted in the statement.
The ICPC Boss, who also advocated a cross-agency committee that will be reviewing and addressing the critical areas of partnership, promised that ICPC was one hundred percent ready to give the FIRS the needed support in the interest of the country’s development.
Responding, The Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, expressed delight about ICPC Chairman’s visit and the expression of interest to help the revenue-generating agency tackle tax-related frauds in Nigeria.
“I am hopeful and optimistic that we will collaborate effectively, and I am particularly delighted that with your support, our enforcement mandate on tax-matters will improve.” Dr. Adedeji.
“We will also develop a framework and we will use technology to do so and I believe you are a ready-made partner for us in the area of revenue generation and the progress, not only for individual agencies but for the federal government as a whole,” he said.
