The Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Mallam Isa Ali Pantami has berated the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over its move to muzzle the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) on who should collect a stamp duty tax.
The Minister made the observation on Friday in his office in Abuja while attending to ICT press session, saying the responsibility of collecting stamp duty is, and should remain the sole responsibility of the NIPOST but not FIRS.
Pantami said just as the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) collects Exercise and Custom Duty, so shall the NIPOST collect stamp duty. He posited either the FIRS or the Ministry of Finance, none of the two is responsible for collecting a stamp duty as there is no justification towards that.
The Minister revealed, the FIRS have been struggling to be the Agency responsible for collecting of the stamp duty. He disclosed the tussle started even before President Buhari appointed him as a Minister but he was not briefed, however, when he learned about the problem, Pantami drew the attention of Mr. President to the situation that stamp duty everywhere in the world is the responsibility of the postal services.
He said there is no harm if the FIRS wish to help the NIPOST through collaborative effort; however, the power of the collection remains the responsibility of the NIPOST.
The Minister further explained that the FIRS were desperate to collect the stamp duty, saying this was demonstrated over there action of convening a stakeholders meeting for the collection of stamp duty without inviting anybody from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, or NIPOST.
He disclosed, the FIRS only invited those who will play their script, who will only endorse their willingness to collect the said duty; meanwhile, his Ministry condemned this move by the FIRS.
The Minister revealed he drew the attention of the Minister of Finance through his letter expressing his resentment towards their move, more so, the President of the Senate was also copied, though his Ministry has no power to change government policy, but he reject the move by the FIRS.
Although the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is yet to take position on the matter contrary to the insinuation that such approval has been depressingly given, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Minister said the ministry is putting measures in place to ensure that at least 95% of Nigerians get digitized in the next 10 years and to align with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP of the Federal Government and the global best practices.
