FG changes international passport requirement

This was the submission of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Tunde Fowler yesterday, November 28 at the 136th meeting of the Joint Tax Board which had the theme, “Increased Inter-Agency Co-operation to Enhance Tax Compliance and Optimise Revenue Collection,’’ in Abuja. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Fowler also announced that Nigerians who either want a new passport or renew an old one must show evidence of being a tax-payer.

His words: “We did take a position and I believe it would be implemented in the very near future that before you get any services from the immigration department: renewal of passports etc, you’d have to show that you are a tax payer. “These things are normal all over the world and it would help us to serve Nigerians and Nigeria better. “People believe that payment of tax is a burden and I’ll repeat that you only pay tax on income and profits.

So, if you reside in Nigeria and you are benefiting from being a Nigerian resident, it is only fair that you contribute to the system that makes you enjoy that standard of living.’’ Fowler also added that the FIRS set a target to increase the individual taxpayer data base by 10 million by December 31, this year. “I’m glad with our co-operation; we’ve been able to attain 30 per cent of that.

We’ve been able to get three million individual taxpayers across the nation. “I’d like to congratulate Kano State for leading the pack by increasing the database by 944,000 followed by Lagos with 306,000 then Kaduna and Plateau,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the validity period of international passport is set to be extended to 10 years according to the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) Muhammad Babandede. The move comes as a result of several complaints from Nigerians.