Tax: Reps panel places export council on status inquiry

A House of Representatives panel yesterday placed the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on status inquiry over some queries raised by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation.

Based on the queries, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) headed by Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) demanded the agency to explain how it made deductions of taxes but did not remit same to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The agency was also asked to provide answers as to why it made inappropriate tax deductions all in 2014.

The NEPC team, led by the Acting Executive Director, Abdullahi Sidi Aliyu said appropriate remittances have been made to the FIRS.

Not satisfied with the responses given by the acting head, the lawmakers resolved to place the agency on status inquiry over the matter.

Chinda said the committee found the responses inconsistent and that NEPC has been “consistent and persistent” in non-remittance of tax to FIRS.

Chinda ruled that NEPC must provide all relevant documents on the matter and appear before the panel on February 19.

Meanwhile, the panel turned down the representatives of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as the head of the agency was absent.

The lawmakers fixed Monday for the head of the bureau to appear before it and respond to some queries raised by the Auditor General.