FG Exposes Over 30 Ministries, Department, Agencies Involve in N14.33bn Tax Fraud Under Buhari's Administration
Israel Adeleke
As Nigerians are reported to be battling with harsh socio-economic realities and widespread hardships, the Federal Government has uncovered a startling figure of siphoned government revenue worth close to N15 billion during the tenure of immediate past President of Nigeria, General Muhammad Buhari.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports gathered that amid pains and suffering in the country, the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) has uncovered tax irregularities totaling N14.33 billion across over 30 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
OTN News further reports that the revelation was contained in the Auditor-General’s Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses, which examined financial activities between 2020 and 2021.
The report highlighted severe lapses in the deduction, remittance, and compliance with financial regulations, raising concerns about the financial accountability of the affected MDAs.
OTN News observed that the report cited breaches of Paragraphs 234 and 235 of the Financial Regulations (2009), which mandate accounting officers to ensure the prompt deduction and remittance of all applicable taxes, including Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax, to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
According to the report, six MDAs were responsible for tax under-deductions amounting to N129.34 million.
Breaking it down, the report highlighted that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Abuja, was the most significant defaulter, with a shortfall of N90.57 million.
In contrast, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja, recorded the smallest deficit of N623,162.80.
“The sum of N129,341,764.04 was the amount of under-deduction of taxes by six ministries, departments, and agencies,” the report stated.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps, Abuja, has the highest amount of N90,579,554.92, while the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja, has the least amount of N623,162.80.”
Furthermore, other implicated agencies in this category include the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State; Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc, Abuja; National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna; and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
Even more alarming were cases of non-deduction of taxes, which amounted to N2.64 billion across 21 MDAs, the report added.
The report revealed that these agencies failed to deduct taxes from payments made to contractors and other beneficiaries, a clear violation of financial regulations.
The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM) Plc, Abuja, was identified as the worst offender, with N1.01 billion in tax discrepancies.
Meanwhile, the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, recorded the smallest infraction at N617,427.66.
“The sum of N2,636,147,740.99 was the amount of taxes not deducted from payments to several beneficiaries by 21 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies,
The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc, Abuja, has the highest amount of N1,009,286,718.93, while the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, has the least amount of N617,427.66.” The report disclosed.
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