Stamp Duty: Again, FIRS And NIPOST Fight Dirty On Twitter

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has reacted to the Twitter statement by Maimuna Abubakar, board chairman of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) over the ongoing disagreement between the two federal government agencies on the collection of stamp duty revenue.

The FIRS in a series of tweets via its official twitter account on Tuesday, said the NIPOST board chairman was trying to mislead the public by her own previous statements.

Naija News recalls the NIPOST board chairman had in a series of tweets on Sunday, accused the FIRS of attempting to steal the mandate of NIPOST and urged the general public to come to their rescue.

In her submission, the matter has been giving her sleepless nights. She argued that NIPOST is the only agency charged with the responsibility of producing adhesive stamps and revenue for the purchase of such stamp accrues to NIPOST. Adding that there is nowhere in the FIRS act or stamp duty act where it’s so stated that FIRS can produce stamp or sell stamp.

However, the FIRS has responded on Tuesday in a statement on Tuesday signed by Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, its
Director of Communication and Liaison.

It described the allegation from the board chairman of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST), as a disservice to the country.

He added that there is a difference between stamp duty and postage stamp, noting that NIPOST and its chairman need to understand that so as not to confuse Nigerians.

The statement reads:

“We appreciate the general public for demonstrating deep knowledge of the difference between Stamp Duty and Postage Stamp. It is unfortunate that Mrs. Maimuna Abubakar, Chairperson of the NIPOST Board is yet to understand this.”

“Our attention was drawn to the tweet by Mrs. Abubakar. Her indecorous tweet would not have deserved any response but for the sensitive nature of the issue at stake, which if not sensibly treated and promptly corrected would likely mislead the public.”

“To be sure, NIPOST is a government parastatal established by Decree 41 of 1992 with the function to *develop, promote, and provide adequate and efficiently co-ordinated postal services at reasonable rates.”

“This function is clearly contrary to the claim by NIPOST over the administration of stamp duties in Nigeria.
On the other hand, the FIRS is the sole agency of got charged with the responsibility of *assessing, collecting, and accounting for all tax types including Stamp Duties.”

“It is therefore shocking to us that such a privileged young lady who happened to be appointed to high office would throw all caution to the air to cast aspersions on reputable public institutions like the National Assembly and FIRS, which she accused of stealing NIPOST idea.”

“This, to say the least, is a preposterous claim and great disservice to the government and people of Nigeria.
We wish to state categorically that, as an agency which operates within the ambit of the law.”

“The FIRS is determined to not only ensure that all monies collected by NIPOST into its illegally operated Stamp Duties Account are fully remitted into the Federation Account but also make sure that any kobo not accounted for in that account is legally recovered in line with the charge of President Muhammadu Buhari to the recently inaugurated Inter-ministerial committee on the recovery of stamp duties from 2016 till date.”

“In addition, anyone found culpable of misappropriating the funds in the said illegal NIPOST Stamp Duties Account would be made to face the law as provisioned by the country’s statute books.”

It accused NIPOST of trying to fight a battle of ego rather than focus on providing service to Nigerians as provisioned for in the country’s constitution.

“The public is hereby reminded that we at the FIRS are resolute in our resolve to safeguard national interests and not any personal ego or interest as NIPOST officials appear to carry on lately.”

“We, therefore, call on right-thinking Nigerians to disregard that ill-advised tweet by Mrs. Maimuna Abubakar and allied misinformation being disseminated by NIPOST in relation to Stamp Duties collection, which by law is the responsibility of the FIRS.”

See the tweet:

THAT VEXED NIPOST TWEET BY MRS. MAIMUNA ABUBAKAR
We appreciate the general public for demonstrating deep knowledge of the difference between Stamp Duty and Postage Stamp. It is unfortunate that Mrs. Maimuna Abubakar, Chairperson of the NIPOST Board is yet to understand this.

— FIRS Nigeria (@firsNigeria) August 4, 2020