The National Assembly Joint Committee has raised concern over Federal Inland Revenue Service’s 2019 projected estimate of non-oil revenue tax collection of 146.54 billion naira.
The Co-chairman of the committee, John Enoh and other members of the committee raised the concern at FIRS’s budget defence in Abuja.
The committee sought to know why the 2018 approved estimate was 153.85 billion naira while the 2019 projected cost stood at 146.54 billion naira amounting to 4.75 per cent decrease.
On personnel cost, the committee asked why the service was proposing 14.6 per cent increase in the number of staff from 7, 854 in 2018 to 9000 staff in 2019.
It equally demanded an explanation for the proposed 160 million naira meant to sew drivers’ uniforms, 825 million naira for refreshment and security vote of 250 million naira among others.
The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Tunde Fowler while presenting the budget proposal, noted that the proposed increase in staff strength was due to the recruitment of staff scheduled in 2019.
