Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS),

Michael Ango, has called for synergy with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to enhance tax compliance and revenue generation in the FCT.

Ango, who made the call during a courtesy visit to the EFCC Executive Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters, emphasised that the synergy aligns with the statutory roles of both agencies in ensuring financial accountability and economic development.

While highlighting that one of the FCT-IRS’s key initiatives for 2025 is the harmonization of revenue collection and administration in the territory, Ango emphasised that such an initiative requires the support of agencies like the EFCC to ensure that all revenues due to the FCT is properly collected and accounted for in a transparent manner.

According to Ango: “This collaboration will enhance ease of doing business, improve revenue generation, and consolidate the massive infrastructural development being undertaken by  Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the  Minister of the FCT.”

While addressing tax compliance among financial crime suspects,  Ango noted that many individuals, under EFCC investigation, fail to meet their tax obligations.

He proposed that tax compliance checks should be integrated into financial crime investigations, ensuring that offenders are also held accountable for unpaid taxes.

He added: “When suspects are being investigated or charged to court, we would like to know their tax compliance level. If they escape through one door, we can catch them through another.”

He further suggested that tax liabilities should be considered during the forfeiture of assets or funds seized by the EFCC.

Olanipekun Olukoyede, the

EFCC Chairman, commended the proposal and expressed readiness to partner with FCT-IRS in improving tax enforcement.

He said that the EFCC already collaborates with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other state tax agencies and would extend the same cooperation to FCT-IRS.

The EFCC boss also stressed the need for a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to define the areas of collaboration, even as he commended Ango’s leadership, as well as the positive strides made by FCT-IRS and the ongoing infrastructural transformation in the FCT, ensuring that taxpayer money is being used effectively.