EFCC Investigating Staff On Abuse Of Operational Funds, Taxpayers Money Not Missing, Says Fowler

By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

The Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Tunde Fowler, has confirmed that some staff of the agency are currently undergoing investigation for abuse of operational funds/Duty Tour Allowances by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He however, declared that no tax payer’s fund is missing or in the custody of FIRS as all monies being generated as taxes are electronically paid directly into the federation account through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Fowler made the clarifications against the backdrop of Media reports insinuating that taxpayers money in the custody of FIRS was missing.

The reports further claimed that some officers explored irregularities in the Service accounting system on Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) to collect claims that they are not due for.

But according to him in an interview: “We have a relationship with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). We have a partnership, through which we combat evasion of taxes. People don’t want to get into trouble with EFCC. So, they pay on time.

“Some (staff) are alleged not to have travelled for the number of days, for which they were slated. The EFCC is looking into that. Sometimes, it is good to have a third party investigate matters like this instead of having a staff investigate another staff. Investigation by a third party is more objective. FIRS has since taken steps to remediate this.

“The EFCC will soon complete its investigation. Anybody found guilty will be dealt with through our administrative process.The issue at stake in this inquiry are operational/travel funds within our expenditure budget.

“The FIRS does not have access to taxpayers money. Its operations are funded by appropriation of the National Assembly, through monthly remittances by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC.”

Fowler added that FIRS acknowledges the statutory rights and responsibilities of anti-corruption agencies and other government agencies such as the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), State Security Services, SSS to inquire into the operations of the Service.

The FIRS Chairman promised that FIRS would continue to give access to agencies with statutory rights and all those who seek information on the operations of the Service.

Fowler said: “Invitations of officials of the Service by EFCC, the Police, SSS and ICPC to shed light on financial transactions and operations of the Service, in the past, are not uncommon and are continuous.

He noted that the FIRS is a public Trust, which is being operated on behalf of Nigerians just as he affirmed that no officer of the FIRS is at large.

Fowler thanked all stakeholders including the media, for their interest in the operations of the Service.

However, he enjoined the media to always go the extra mile to ascertain the truth, particularly on sensitive financial issues where taxpayers and public trust are at stake.

He re-assured the general public of the agency’s unalloyed commitment to public accountability and transparency in the sacred mandate of tax collection.