The FIRS in a series of tweets via its
official twitter account on Tuesday, said the NIPOST board chairman was trying
to mislead the public by her own previous statements.
However, Federal Inland Revenue
Service (FIRS) has reacted to the Twitter statement by Maimuna Abubakar, board
chairman of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) over the ongoing disagreement
between the two federal government agencies on the collection of stamp duty
revenue.
Recall the NIPOST board chairman had
in a series of tweets on Sunday, accused the FIRS of attempting to steal the
mandate of NIPOST and urged the general public to come to their rescue.
In her submission, the matter has been
giving her sleepless nights. She argued that NIPOST is the only agency charged
with the responsibility of producing adhesive stamps and revenue for the
purchase of such stamp accrues to NIPOST. Adding that there is nowhere in the
FIRS act or stamp duty act where it’s so stated that FIRS can produce stamp or
sell stamp.
However, the FIRS has responded on
Tuesday in a statement on Tuesday signed by Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, its Director
of Communication and Liaison.
It described the allegation from the
board chairman of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST), as a disservice to the
country.
He added that there is a difference
between stamp duty and postage stamp, noting that NIPOST and its chairman need
to understand that so as not to confuse Nigerians.
The
statement reads:
“We
appreciate the general public for demonstrating deep knowledge of the
difference between Stamp Duty and Postage Stamp. It is unfortunate that Mrs.
Maimuna Abubakar, Chairperson of the NIPOST Board is yet to understand this.”
“Our
attention was drawn to the tweet by Mrs. Abubakar. Her indecorous tweet would
not have deserved any response but for the sensitive nature of the issue at
stake, which if not sensibly treated and promptly corrected would likely
mislead the public.”
“To
be sure, NIPOST is a government parastatal established by Decree 41 of 1992
with the function to *develop, promote, and provide adequate and efficiently
co-ordinated postal services at reasonable rates.”
“This
function is clearly contrary to the claim by NIPOST over the administration of
stamp duties in Nigeria.
On
the other hand, the FIRS is the sole agency of got charged with the
responsibility of *assessing, collecting, and accounting for all tax types
including Stamp Duties.”
“It
is therefore shocking to us that such a privileged young lady who happened to
be appointed to high office would throw all caution to the air to cast
aspersions on reputable public institutions like the National Assembly and
FIRS, which she accused of stealing NIPOST idea.”
“This,
to say the least, is a preposterous claim and great disservice to the
government and people of Nigeria.
We
wish to state categorically that, as an agency which operates within the ambit
of the law.”
“The
FIRS is determined to not only ensure that all monies collected by NIPOST into
its illegally operated Stamp Duties Account are fully remitted into the
Federation Account but also make sure that any kobo not accounted for in that
account is legally recovered in line with the charge of President Muhammadu
Buhari to the recently inaugurated Inter-ministerial committee on the recovery
of stamp duties from 2016 till date.
“In
addition, anyone found culpable of misappropriating the funds in the said
illegal NIPOST Stamp Duties Account would be made to face the law as
provisioned by the country’s statute books.”
It
accused NIPOST of trying to fight a battle of ego rather than focus on
providing service to Nigerians as provisioned for in the country’s
constitution.
“The
public is hereby reminded that we at the FIRS are resolute in our resolve to
safeguard national interests and not any personal ego or interest as NIPOST
officials appear to carry on lately.”
“We,
therefore, call on right-thinking Nigerians to disregard that ill-advised tweet
by Mrs. Maimuna Abubakar and allied misinformation being disseminated by NIPOST
in relation to Stamp Duties collection, which by law is the responsibility of
the FIRS.”
See the tweet:
THAT VEXED NIPOST TWEET BY MRS. MAIMUNA ABUBAKAR
We appreciate the general public for demonstrating deep knowledge of the difference between Stamp Duty and Postage Stamp. It is unfortunate that Mrs. Maimuna Abubakar, Chairperson of the NIPOST Board is yet to understand this.— FIRS Nigeria (@firsNigeria) August 4, 2020
The public is hereby reminded that we at the FIRS are resolute in our resolve to safeguard national interests and not any personal ego or interest as NIPOST officials appear to carry on lately.
— FIRS Nigeria (@firsNigeria) August 4, 2020
