FG launches new initiative to increase revenue generation

The Federal Government has introduced a new policy known as the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative aimed at generating more revenues to finance projects across the federation. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who officially launched the initiative on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the aim was to spur all the revenue-generating agencies in the country to increase their targets to enable the government to execute more projects in all sectors of the economy especially the critical infrastructure. Representatives of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), NNPC, Accountant-General of the Federation and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority were present at the launch. There were representatives of the Debt Management Office, Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Insurance Commission. The major revenue generating agencies made presentations on the initiatives they would introduce in their respective agencies to increase revenue. Ahmed said “The initiative will be implemented in the areas of achieving sustainable revenue generation to optimally collect revenues to maintain fiscal buoyancy and resilience. “We will also be looking at new revenue streams and enhanced enforcement with regards to revenue collection on our existing revenue streams. “Through the initiative, we hope to achieve cohesion between revenue generating entities and equipping them with cutting-edge tools and expertise needed to support high performance. Ahmed said that as a way of increasing non-oil revenue, the government was looking at the possibility of increasing Value Added Tax (VAT). “We are studying a possibility of a VAT increase but you also know that the increase of VAT requires an amendment of law. “It is most likely the VAT increase will be selective. It will be on special items so it won’t be across the board. “I’m sure you are already aware that there is a number of items that are exempted from VAT such as food and drugs. “There would be a VAT increase during the course of 2019, we will announce later the items and what the rate would be. “We would have to take a request to the national assembly for amendment before it takes effect,” she said. The Chairman of FIRS, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, said that to increase tax revenue, the service plans to kickstart the drive to boost revenue by reviewing the current legal framework on tax. He said that the Service plans to collaborate with Deposit Money Banks to get names of companies and individuals with funds in excess of N1 billion and make sure that appropriate tax is collected. He also said that the Service would also link up with the Nigeria Customs to get data on companies that import goods into the country, to ensure that they pay their fair share of tax. He added that henceforth, the Service would ensure that it collects tax on properties owned by corporate entities in the country. Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) said that the Service will focus on reducing smuggling, block mis invoicing and illicit financial flow of goods. Ali said that the Service would like to introduce new excise duties. He said that at the moment, the country only collects excise duty on alcohol and cigarettes. He said the Service would like to look into including carbonated drinks since they also have health implications for consumers. The Customs CG said that the Service wants the country’s policy on exports to be reviewed, to allow the Service charge duties on goods being exported out of the country. Earlier, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris said that his office would like to introduce the use of Treasury Single Account to all existing Nigerian embassies to enhance revenue. As a way of blocking leakages, the AGF said his office would also link revenue generating agencies to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). He said that GIFMIS implementation will enable the Federal Government process financial transactions faster and also reduce opportunities for corruption and ensure the safety of public resources.

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja