NFIU Exposes State-Level Tax Evasion and Calls for Data Sharing
By Patience Ikpeme
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has revealed that the majority of tax evasion activities in Nigeria occur at the state level.
Mrs. Hafsat Bakari, the NFIU’s Chief Executive Officer, made this disclosure during the inaugural Revenue Assurance Summit in Abuja.
Bakari assured of the NFIU’s commitment to combating tax evasion through collaboration with state-level tax authorities.
The agency she revealed has developed a secure platform, the Crime Records Information Management System (CRIMS), to facilitate the exchange of intelligence between the NFIU and state Internal Revenue Services.
Also at the event, the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee Chairman, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, noted the importance of data sharing among government agencies for effective revenue generation.
He expressed concern over an incident where a government agency demanded payment from the Joint Tax Board (JTB) for requested data.
Oyedele stressed the need for a unified approach to economic policies, urging government bodies to work together to achieve shared objectives.
He also announced plans to introduce legislation criminalizing data hoarding by government agencies from other government agencies.
The summit, organized by the NFIU, brought together Internal Revenue Services from all states and the FCT to discuss strategies for enhancing revenue collection and combating tax evasion.
