The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Babatunde Fowler, says the Service will in line with its corporate social responsibility activities provide educational support for the Nigerian Army.
Fowler stated this when he led his management team on a visit to Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the visit was to appreciate the army for its commitment to defence of peace and security of Nigeria and to also pledge the support of FIRS.
Fowler said that the revenue agency had put in place some corporate social responsibility programmes to support the army in procurement of educational materials.
“We are also here to let you know that we will like to partner with you. We do have some CSR projects that we will be willing to assist the Nigerian army or other things.
“In terms of education, we do have some literature that we give out to secondary schools, also with exercise books and we will make arrangement. Besides, we are quite aware that you do have some institutions of education.
“We will be donating some exercise books and some literature books on taxation to also let them be aware of the importance of taxation, going forward.
“I also came with the Executive Secretary of Joint Tax Board (JTB) and that is the umbrella body for all the tax agencies across the country and so all of us feel the same way.
“First of all, to show appreciation for your service to the nation, and to also let you know that if there’s anything we can do to assist your operations, we will certainly be willing to do,’’ he said.
The FIRS boss said that the agency had achieved milestones in increasing the revenue base of government through non-oil revenue in the last three years.
He added that most unrest in many developing countries like Nigeria were direct result of poverty and lack of education, adding that FIRS was committed to improving revenue collection.
According to him, the non-oil revenue increased to the highest ever in 2018 at a total collection of N5.23 trillion out of which the non-oil accounted for 57 per cent.
“That basically tells us that we are on the right direction that businesses are growing and you only pay tax when you make a profit.
“That shows that some businesses are making profit and in making profit, I am sure they also employ more individuals.
“I think that sets a good foundation for dealing with some of the instability within the country,’’ he said.
In his response, Buratai commended Fowler for FIRS support to Nigerian Military School in Zaria by building a hall for the school.
He said that the army had a number of schools, including command schools, children school and Nigerian Army University, adding that the army would welcome more interventions from FIRS.
Buratai also commended FIRS for improving the revenue collection and revenue base of government from non-oil sources.
“I want to say that coming here is well appreciated; we thank you for associating with us, we thank you for appreciating the task that we do to keep our country safe.
“`It is one of our constitutional responsibilities to defend the territorial integrity of our country among others.
`We have numbers of schools; the command schools, the children schools and indeed of recent the Nigerian Army University which you are very much aware of.
“These are areas that we will appreciate your intervention through this CSR which you have lined up.
“You contributed greatly to Nigerian Military School, Zaria, not only in constructing Ogundeko Hall, but you also approved the full furnishing of the hall.
“We are much grateful and we thank you for that.
“Just like Oliver Twist, like you offered, the Nigerian Army University is there in Biu and we will make appropriate presentation for your kind intervention,’’ he said.
