Okonjo-Iweala to FIRS: we rely on you to make up for shortfall in revenues

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Monday told the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) that the Federal Government was hoping on it to make up for the shortfall in revenues arising from the increasing activities of oil thieves.

Okonjo-Iweala,while  describing  the board   as a  foremost revenue earner, expressed satisfaction with the leadership of Kabiru Mashi whom she similarly commended  for surpassing revenue targets.

The minister, who was speaking during an  unscheduled visit to the FIRS Corporate HeadQuarters in Abuja, lamented the difficulty in boosting oil revenue due to the prevailing circumstances in the environment.

'We have to really work hard on non-oil revenue direction. As you can see, we have challenges in  oil revenue due to oil theft.Prices are crashing,we are experiencing two shocks- the price shock and quantity shock.   And for Customs, we are also experiencing some shocks. We are the biggest importer of rice in the world, by the time we became self-sufficient, the revenue in that area will drop,' she said.

She, however, used the occasion to clear the air on  the appointment of a substantive chief executive for the Service.

'I don't want your morale to be lowered.Every institution has to go this way,even the  World Bank also advertise positions.The President called me that this position has to be advertised using a consultant. The decision to appoint a substantive chairman is  now in his hands.He has the list and we are also working with the National Assembly.

'When the President is ready he will tell us. Come June 1, we have to be up and doing, our target is $500 million.'

Also speaking, Chairman of the FIRS chapter of the  Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN), Comrade Samson Okere, assured the  minister that contrary to insinuations and faceless petitions,the relationship between the staff and management has  been cordial