JUST-IN: Reps committee summons FIRS chairman over alleged tax evasion by oil firms

The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee Investigating the Structure and Accountability of Joint Venture Business and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCS) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited on Wednesday summoned the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, over alleged tax evasion by oil companies in the country.

The Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Fulata, disclosed this during the committee’s hearing in Abuja.

He said the non-remittance of appropriate taxes by the oil companies in Nigeria had serious effects on the economy.

Nami is expected to appear before the panel on November 21.

The committee also expressed concern over the inability of FIRS to have access to the Stock Certificate of crude oil lifted in the country.

A Director and Special Assistant in FIRS who represented the chairman at the hearing were not allowed to make presentations by the lawmakers as they insisted that only the chairman is expected to speak on behalf of the agency.

The duo had earlier told the committee that the service does not have access to the Stock Certificate of the lifted crude oil.

The representatives said they only relied on the invoice produced and presented to it by the oil companies.

The committee said it would be ridiculous for FIRS to rely on invoice produced by the oil companies instead of the Stock Certificate which gives clearer pictures of the oil being lifted.

The committee adjourned its sitting to November 21.