Okiro Seeks Public Confidence In Revenue Collection

By Eric Ojo

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mike Okiro has reiterated the need for a system of revenue collection in Nigeria that guarantees the highest degree of public confidence in government’s integrity, efficiency and fairness.

The Chairman said such a system must also comply with current statutory provisions and revenue generation Personal Income Tax Act as well as other regulatory frameworks in the country.

Speaking at the on-going 3-day Stakeholders’ Conference on “Improving Federal Government Internally Generated Revenue (IGR): Nigeria Police Services in Focus” organized in Abuja by the Ministry of Police, Okiro noted that the practice of tax evasion and other tax administration challenges will be put under check when there is public confidence in the system adopted for revenue collection.

The principal idea behind Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), according to him, is to collect the proper amount of tax revenue at least cost, in a manner that guarantees the highest degree of public confidence.

He also observed that there have been criticisms in respect of the activities of tax consultants and their use of Gestapo approaches to tax drive including use of armed Soldiers and Policemen who use excessive force in their tax drive.

“We have to be careful not to recommend a tax regime that is capable of encouraging capital flight to some of our neighbouring countries with more tolerable tax regimes”, added.

The Chairman there called for better options that will give the Police better image.

In a related development, he also led a delegation of the Commission to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja to congratulate the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Sulieman Abbah on his confirmation by the Nigerian Police Council

Also speaking in Abuja when he received in audience a delegation from the Naraguta Rotary Club of Jos, who conferred on him an award of “Distinguished beholder of the Law” in appreciation of his respect for the rule of law throughout his career, Okiro commended the Club for its commitment to the cause of the needy and poor.

He further described Rotarians as special breed of people who are in the vanguard for the uplift of the down trodden.