Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee says it will use the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a model in the implementation of harmonisation of taxes in the country.

The Chairman, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this during a meeting on harmonisation of revenue administration in Abuja on Friday.

The meeting was organised by the FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) for the Area Council Chairmen of the FCT.

Oyedele explained that the harmonisation and simplification of taxes would not reduce revenue as some people erroneously perceived but would enhance revenue generation.

“Harmonisation and simplification of taxes, as well achieving equity and fairness in revenue administration are critical areas of reform for our committee,” he said.

He expressed support for the steps taken by the FCT-IRS towards harmonising taxes in the territory.

He advised the FCT and other states of the federation to discourage unorthodox means of collecting taxes, levies and fees, especially on the highway, roads and streets.

He described unorthodox means of revenue collection as embarrassing and unacceptable.

The chairman advocated the use of technology in the collection of revenue, adding that it has the capacity to eradicate tax evasion, leakages and improve transparency.

He urged stakeholders to work together to ensure the success of the tax harmonisation drive.

According to him, there must be a collective will to fight the challenge of multiple taxation in the country.

Oyedele noted that the FCT had all it takes to be number one in the ease of doing business in the country, adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure its success.

In his remarks, the acting Executive Chairman, FCT-IRS, Mr Michael Ango, commended the FCT area council chairmen for their commitment to the harmonisation project.

Ango said that their determination, willingness and support was critical to achieving full tax harmonisation in FCT.

He said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, was committed to boosting internally generated revenue in the FCT to be able to provide infrastructure and social services to residents.

He noted that constant engagement with stakeholders in the harmonisation drive was important to ensure that all parties involved were on the same page.

The acting chairman pledged the FCT-IRS commitment to put in place a robust technology platform to ensure efficiency and transparency in revenue collection and administration.

On his part, Mr Ubokutom Nyah, Mandate Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation, and Public-Private Partnership, FCT Administration, reiterated Wike’s commitment to the harmonisation drive.

Nyah lauded FCT-IRS chairman for reviving the initiative and encouraged the area councils’ chairmen to fully support the project.

This, according to him, will ensure the success of the harmonisation of taxes in the FCT.

The Chairman, Kuje Area Council, Alhaji Abdullahi Sabo, who spoke on behalf of the councils’ chairmen, welcomed the selection of FCT as a model for tax harmonisation in the country.

Sabo pledged their support for the successful implementation of the project.

The chairman, who expressed confidence and trust in FCT-IRS capacity to collect revenues on behalf of the area councils, stressed the need for fairness and transparency in the distribution of revenue collected.

“We are happy that this is coming at a time when we have a committed and hardworking minister, who is determined to transform the FCT.

“In the last one year in office, things have changed for the better across the territory,” he said. (NAN)