FIRS, LIRS establish joint tax audit/investigation team

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Lagos Inland Revenue Service have agreed to establish a joint audit and investigation team aimed at encouraging exchange of information.

Already, they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect.

This is contained in a communique signed by Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman, LIRS, and Muhammad Nami, Executive Chairman, FIRS on Wednesday.

The general public, taxpayers and tax practitioners are charged to provide full support and cooperation to both agencies for the overall benefit of all stakeholders.

According to the MoU, the overall objective of the joint tax audit would be to improve tax administration by reducing tax compliance cost, thereby enabling ease of doing business in the country.

Executive Chairman of LIRS, Subair said while the importance of the agreement was to foster greater collaboration between the two agencies, “there is no reason to debate the above as it has been established that tax compliance and good governance are expected to co-exist as the indivisible social contract that binds citizens and governments anywhere in the world.

“Therefore, citizens and governments are expected to fulfil their end of the bargain in achieving a balance.”

According to the FIRS Executive Chairman, Nami, ‘’the cooperation would enable the two authorities to work as a team in sharing relevant information that would assist both parties in their tax administration and enforcement.”

He added, “We will carry out a joint audit and investigation as a team; we will also conduct an automatic exchange of information for gathering data for the purpose of tax administration.”

The communique said while the notice was issued for the information and guidance of the general public, taxpayers and tax practitioners in line with the MoU.

The collaboration is expected to improve tax administration with a view to enhancing tax revenue generation, creation of a robust database and improve on the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio.

Members of the public are assured that employees of both parties will abide by the Code of Conduct and Ethical compliance to ensure that the implementation of the MOU does not impact negatively on the taxpayers.

Uber, Bolt drivers insist on N2,000 minimum fare per trip

Drivers of Uber and Bolt have insisted on riders paying a minimum fare of N2,000 per trip.

This follows the hike in the pump price of petrol from N184 per litre to about N500 after the removal of fuel subsidy.

The drivers under the aegis of Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWN) also said they would not back down on their protest against the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy until their demands are granted.

The union which rose from its national emergency meeting in Lagos on Wednesday said it would continue with its nationwide protest on Thursday (today).

The union said its members across the country would participate in the industrial action.

It said the demand for a 200 per cent increase in the fare per trip was justifiable after the fuel price hike.

The union’s National President Damola Adeniran, was quoted in a statement by Media and Publicity Committee Chairman, Jossy Olawale, that AUATWN members were beginning to run at a loss.

“We have overtimes been subjected to hardship, oppression and cowed in the name of wanting to survive as unemployed graduates who humbly undertake driving job,” he said.

Adeniran said Bolt had started blocking the account of members of the excos of the union over the protest.

The union leader asked for more equitable payment for AUATWN’s workers.

He said, “As a union, we have the right to protest and protect the right of our members for better welfare, as a result which we cannot be punished while undertaking this lawful path.”

The union leader said the demands of AUATWN’s members remained unchanged: increase in fares by 200 per cent and reduction of commission by 50 per cent, among others.

Uber, Bolt drivers insist on N2,000 minimum fare per trip 

Shettima to lead discussions on subsidy removal palliatives

Vice-President Kashim Shettima will coordinate discussions on governments’ interventions to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the people.

Already, President Bola Tinubu has directed the VP-led National Economic Council to begin the process.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State while briefing State House reporters after leading some major oil marketers on a visit to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governor said the marketers were in the presidential villa to express solidarity with the president for his bold decision to end subsidy payment on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol.

He said the President’s action showed his determination and courage to remove the hemorrhage that had bedevilled the country for decades.

The governor said while there would be some discomfort on the part of the people, the move would eventually pay off as there can be no gains without pains.

He said with the policy in place, the country would be saving over N6 trillion annually.

Abiodun noted that fuel prices had escalated in some neighbouring countries because of the increase in pump price in Nigeria.