FCT-IRS board: Abuja indigenes fault NASS for non-inclusion

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Musa Bello

By Stanley Onyekwere

As controversies continue to trail the non-inclusion of Abuja natives in the recent reconstituted Board of FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), the indigenous youths of Abuja have come out to exonerate the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, of any blame as specified in the FCT-IRS Act, 2015.
Specifically, the indigenous youths have rather put the blame on the doorstep of the National Assembly for not having the interest of Abuja natives at heart before passage of FCT Board of Internal Revenue Service 2015 Act.
The group under the aegis of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment stressed that the recent reconstituted FCT Internal Revenue Board Service was carried out in line with 2015 Act, adding that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, implemented what he has inherited from his predecessor in office.
In a statement issued in Abuja, President of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment, Commander Isaac David, accused the National Assembly for not doing enough during plenary to accommodate the interest of Abuja natives as Board member before its passage into law.
According to the statement, "We will not be party to those calling for the head of the FCT Minister for non inclusion of indigenous people of Abuja in the just FCT-IRS Board. The Minister acted in line with the Act that establishes the Board which he inherited.
"To be specific, FCT-IRS Act, 2015 states in part; "the Chairman of the Service who shall be experienced in taxation as Chairman of the Service to be appointed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, subject to the approval of the National Assembly; the FCT Director of Treasury who shall be the Deputy chairman of the Board.
"One representative each not lower than a Director from the following departments of the Federal Capital Territory Administration: (1) the Department of Legal Services, (2) Department of Lands, Planning and Survey, (3) Department of Area Councils, (4) Abuja Infrastructure and Investment Company, (5) Department of Economic Planning, Research and Statistics, and (5) Department of Public Enlightenment.
"Six persons from the six geopolitical zones, who shall be members of relevant professional body and knowledgeable in tax matters to represent public interest, and two of whom shall be women.
"With this enabling Act, it will be unfair on any person or group of persons to blame the FCT Minister for non inclusion of Abuja natives as Board member. Rather, the blame should go to the lawmakers who fail to recognize us as one of the states of the federation.
"The Senator representing us, Sen. Philip Aduda may have tried his best, but I sincerely sympathize with him because he is a lone voice in the upper chamber."
David, therefore, canvassed for more representation of FCT indegenes at both chambers of the National Assembly for fairness and equity.

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