Finance minister laments Omogui-Okauru’s exit from FIRS

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Women Politics Sunday, July 1st, 2012

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Minister of Finance, Okonjo-Iweala
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The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that the exit of the former Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omogui-Okauru, is a great loss to the service.

Omogui-Okauru bowed out on April 9 this year from the FIRS, after serving for seven years as executive chairman.

Upon assumption of office on May 3, 2004, tax collection in the FIRS grew astronomically from slightly below N1.2tn in 2004 to over N4.6tn in 2011.

Other reforms carried out during her tenure include drafting of a comprehensive legal framework for tax administration in Nigeria, the passage of five Acts (FIRS Act, Value Added Tax Act, Companies income Tax Act, National Automotive Council Act and Personal Income Tax Act).

She also spearheaded the transition of the FIRS from a core federal civil service structure to a semi-autonomous agency of government and introduced the Unique Tax Identification Number.

Speaking at a send forth ceremony in her honour, Okonjo-Iweala, who was represented at the event by the Minister of State, Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama, said but for the provisions of the FIRS Act, which stipulated just two terms, the government would not have allowed her to go.

The minister said that Omoigui-Okauru had set a very high standard at FIRS, adding that the present administration would use it as a standard in appointing the next executive chairman.

She said, “She is the yardstick we will use to determine who will take over at the FIRS. We know the work cannot be completed, but we will only appoint someone that will continue from where she stopped and build on what she had done for the benefit of the country.”

Responding,Omogui-Okauru charged the current management of the FIRS to surpass her records at the service.

She said, “All we have achieved for the period of my stay in FIRS, I owe it to all of you, for your support, dedication, hard work and cooperation. Now that I have left, the greatest honour and respect you can give us is to take FIRS to a level higher than we left it.

-Punchwp_posts