The House of Representatives has accused the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, of “gross misconduct of the highest order” for its failure to submit its audited account to the office of the Auditor General of the Federation as required by law.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Oluwole Oke, who spoke when the Executive Chairman of Service, Mohammed Nami, appeared before the committee on Thursday, said the failure of the FIRS was shocking considering the fact that agency run after agencies who fail to make remittances on time.
The excuse by the FIRS boss, who appeared before the resumed Public hearing on refusal of Non-Treasury Funded and Partially Funded Agencies to render their Audited Accounts covering the period 2014 till date to the Auditor-General of the Federation that he assumed office in December, pleaded for time to get the outstanding ones ready for rendition did not go down well with the committee.
The Committee frowned at the submission of the FIRS boss being the nation’s official revenue collector wondering why such an all-important Revenue Agency would not have an up to date audited accounts.
Oke said, “It is very strange. If the FIRS cannot produce an up to date audited accounts of its operations, how does it wants the Executive arm of the government to prepare the Medium Time Expenditure Frame Work, to the legislature to determine the annual financial budget?
“Funny enough, the officials of the same Agency will be seen moving around to seal off premises of business outfits over nonpayment of their taxes
“We are aware that the Executive Chairman of the Agency assumed office in December last year but that should not an excuse for the Agency to have an up to date audited accounts for accountability.
The Committee, however, resolved to place the Agency on a full scale status enquiry to probe into its operations to be able make amendments where necessary for greater efficiency.