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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has disclosed that it generated over N262 billion in Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2024.
Acting Chairman, Micheal Ango, made the disclosure while addressing journalists at its annual sensitisation campaign to mobilise the residents of Abuja to voluntarily comply with their tax obligations, in 2025 and beyond.
While further disclosing that in January, the agency generated N43.8 billion, he stressed that individuals and companies that fail to file their annual returns would be penalised.
“The FCT is a unique entity because it stands both for the Federal Government and the subnational government. We have a dual character as the FCT, and this dual character creates certain responsibilities on us as the FCT.l
“As we are all aware, in the last two years or thereabouts that this administration has been in power one of the main focus in the FCT has been infrastructure, building and rehabilitation of roads, rehabilitation of schools, hospitals, and other social infrastructure.
“And all of this costs a lot to us. I’m sure that anyone who has been a resident of Abuja in the last year and a half will attest to the fact that the Honorable Minister of the FCT His Excellency, Barrister Nyesom Wike has shown a singular-minded commitment on behalf of the FCT. But the Honorable Minister cannot achieve this with his personal funds. “He cannot achieve it with the subvention or the allocation from the federal government alone. And this is where we as the FCT IRS come into play. It is our responsibility to collect revenue on behalf of the FCT for use by the FCT residents.
“And so every time we come out to interact with the general public, we want to make it clear that we are working for the general public. We are not working for the Honorable Minister, not working for the FCC administration. We are actually working for the residents of the FCT…”
“Some of the roads that the minister builds, I am sure he will never ply those roads. And this is why annually we come out to speak to our residents, to speak to our taxpayers, one-on-one, where they are. We decided to go and meet them in their businesses, in their shops, and on the streets.
“I know that when we go out there’s a lot of dancing, clapping, and, you know, gyration. But the reality is that we’re carrying a very, very serious message. And the serious message is that Abuja residents need to contribute, just like our by-law says.
“This is your contribution to building a world-class city. The Abuja that we envisage is an Abuja that can be compared to any of the major capital cities in the world. And the Honorable Minister has said that is his vision, and we believe that, that vision is achievable. So we want all of you who are here today to please go out and spread this message. As we dance, as we sing on the streets, please let Abuja residents know that the FCT-IRS wants to partner with them to build a world-class city where we have good roads, we have running water, we have good hospitals, our children can go to good schools, we have ambulances, we have security, we have street lights, you know, we have parks, and all of the other things that make a city livable. For us, we have certain obligations, which is that we have filing deadlines.
“The first filing deadline for the year was 31st of January, 2025, where the employer’s annual return was due. And I must say to you that we got very significant numbers of persons who filed. And we are in the process of actually commending every single company that filed their annual returns, their employer annual returns. We are going to write them a letter and commend them. And for those who did not file, we are also going to write them a letter, but this is not a letter of commendation. This is actually, we are going to be sending out penalties for non-compliance, and then giving them a chance to comply.
“We have another deadline coming up in another 30 days or so, which is the individual annual returns. The law mandates every person, whether in employment or not, to file their annual income tax returns by the 31st of March, every year. And this is one of the things that we hope this roadshow will be able to achieve.”
