BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has urged tax payers in the country to beware of con men that are posing as officials of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).
She said to avoid being duped, taxpayers should always demand for written notices whenever they receive phone calls from any tax officials.
Reacting to the activities of some fake tax officials on VAIDS, Mrs Adeosun said, “My attention has been drawn to reports of some unidentified tax officials requesting for bank details and address of tax payers.
She said Nigerians must be wary of criminals trying to infiltrate the tax amnesty scheme, stressing; “If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Tax Office, do not panic. Ask them to send you a written notice. Do not provide any details like your address or bank details.”
In a related development, a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the Finance Minister, Oluyinka Akintunde said that Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun have celebrated a consistent tax payer, a Kaduna-based businessman, Elder Lema Jibrin for his outstanding performance.
Speaking during the VAIDS sensitisation forum in Kaduna last week, Governor el-Rufai noted that Jibrin has consistently fulfilled his tax obligations to the government for about 40 years running.
According to him, “Elder Lema Jibrin, the Dan Iyan Katsina, is the most tax compliant Nigerian. He has been paying his taxes consistently for 40 years and has not relented or evaded the payment of taxes.”
In her remarks, the Finance Minister commended Elder Jibrin for his patriotism, exceptional consistency and diligence in tax payment, and challenged all taxpayers nationwide to embrace the Federal Government’s amnesty programme and regularise their tax profiles before the expiration of the March 31, 2018 deadline.
