The House of Representatives has frowned at the indiscriminate collection of taxes
and tenement rates in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the House further directed residents of the FCT to cease forthwith, payment of such taxes.
The House also mandated its committee on FCT to carry out investigation to ascertain why the FCT Inland Revenue Service Board is yet to take off to date despite previous resolutions of the House.
Similarly, it directed the committee to dig into the matter and determine why the perpetrators have been
having field day, saying, "investigate this activity and determine why this has been illegally going on with the aim of bringing perpetrators to book and report back to the House within two weeks."
This followed the consideration and adoption of a motion under matters of urgent national importance,
moved by Hon. Emmanuel Orker-Jev (APC, Benue).
Moving the motion, Hon. Orker-Jev, noted that certain individuals have in various guises, engaged in forceful
collection of taxes and tenement rates without the consent of the relevant authority.
The lawmaker said that the rates are arbitrarily collected by individuals brandishing forged court documents and threatening to lock up premises of defaulters.
Orker-Jev further expressed worry that "this act portends an affront to the FCT Inland Revenue
Service Act and Tax Laws of the Federation and is aimed at defrauding the unsuspecting members of the public in these days of recession".
He explained that FCT Inland Revenue Service, the agency empowered by the law to collect taxes and rates in the capital territory has not been setup, thus allowing all manner of individuals or group to hit the streets of Abuja brandishing all manner of receipts and collecting all sorts of money from
unsuspecting innocent, law abiding residents.
The lawmaker who chairs the House Rules and Business committee further explained that the said taxes and tenement rates have been authorised by Acts of the National Assembly, that is, the taxes (approved list for collection) Act and the FCT Internal Revenue Services Act, 2015.
While contributing to the debate, Hon. Babale Bashir (APC, Kano) said " we need to put an end to this illegality now, people are complaining out there that there is no money. We have to create legitimate ways of generating revenue. As representatives of the masses we have to speak up on issues that are not right", Bashir stated.
The motion was unanimously passed and adopted following question by presiding Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
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