By Godfrey AKON
The Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has listed Nigeria’s top-performing taxpayers in the year 2021.
The service commended the taxpayers for their exceptional efforts in contributing towards providing the necessary funds for the government to meet its social contract with the Nigerian citizens, despite the harsh economic conditions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
FIRS, in a statement by the Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami, noted that without the taxpayers the service would not have been able to achieve the feat it recorded in 2021 where it surpassed its tax collection target for the year and crossed the N6trillion threshold for the first time.
“The FIRS is pleased to celebrate the top-performing taxpayers who contributed to her success in 2021,” the release stated. “The Service surpassed its tax collection target in 2021, and in doing so, crossed the N6trillion threshold for the first time,” Nami said.
He further stated that the tax revenue collection of N6.405 trillion in 2021 was made possible courtesy the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the support of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the National Assembly too.
“The feat recorded by the Service was made possible by the uncommon leadership of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria – Muhammadu Buhari, the active support of our supervisory Ministry, the backing of the National Assembly and its leadership as well as the cooperation of all other stakeholders in the tax area.
“To everyone who contributed to FIRS’ success in 2021, we say thank you.
“Of particular importance is the contribution of our much esteemed taxpayers; they defied the very harsh global economic conditions imposed by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic to produce a heroic performance in tax payment, compliance and support.
“The combined efforts of all taxpayers made it possible for the Service to achieve the tax revenue collection of 2021 which provided our governments with necessary funds to meet their social contracts with the citizens,” the FIRS noted.
On the list of top-performing taxpayers included the Nigeria Liquified Petroleum Gas Company Ltd, which was recognized as the Most Supportive Taxpayer; while the Nigeria National Petroleum Company was listed as the Highest Taxpayer.
Others on the list of Top-Performing Taxpayers included Mobil Producing Limited, Star Deep Water Petroleum, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Total E & P Nigeria Limited, Airtel Networks Limited, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company Limited, Nestle Nig. Plc, Dangote Cement, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Ltd, NIG Agip Oil Co. Ltd, British American Tobacco Marketing, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Stanbic IBC Bank Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc.
The FIRS also appreciated the Northern Cables Processing and Manufacturing Limited, NOCACO, and Ikeja Electric Plc for being the most improved in tax filing and VAT compliance, respectively.
Man, 35, steals two children during church service
By Williams ABAH
A 35-year old man, Sikiru Famuyiwa, was in the early hours of last Wednesday arrested at River side, a surbub in Masaka area of Karu local government area of Nasarawa state, by a vigilante group for allegedly stealing two children during a church service.
The suspect, according to the vigilante, Famuyiwa, was arrested following a distress call. It was gathered that when church service was going on at Celestial Church of Christ located at River side, the suspect and one other who is now at large, sneaked into the children’s department and stole two children who are two and three years old.
While on their way out with the stolen children, a vigilante member of the church sighted them and raised alarm, this attracted the attention of passersby and the congregation.
The church members and the passersby pursued after the suspects and apprehended one of them.
A cross section of the vigilantes interviewed after their colleague raised the alarmed, said the other member of the vigilante in different locations in the area moblised and moved to the scene where the suspect was rescued from angry mob who were about to lynch him.
The suspect was immediately handed over to the anti- kidnapping unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department.
The residents pleaded with the security operatives to ensure the suspect and the one on the run and other accomplice were hunted and brought to book.
