PRESS RELEASE:FCT IRS SET TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS …as administration pledges early passage of 2018 Budget

The FCT Minister Mr. Muhammad Musa Bello has announced the final confirmation of the Chairman/Chief Executive of Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service -FCT IRS, Malam Abdullahi Oteh Attah, by the Federal House of Representatives. This brings to a close the process of ratification by the two chambers of the national legislature and paves the way for the agency’s commencement of operation.

The FCT Minister made this revelation when he addressed an interactive session of the FCT Executive Council, with Area Council Chairmen, heads of security agencies and FCT traditional rulers, which took place in the FCT Minister’s conference room in Lifecamp today, Tuesday October 24, 2017.. 

Malam Bello expressed hope that the coming into effect of the FCT IRS would boost the Administration’s revenue profile and provide fund for the implementation of projects that would make life meaningful for the FCT residents.

The Minister stressed that the session was convened in order to build strong partnership between the various stakeholders and the FCT leadership.  He said the Administration considered it essential to hear from the traditional rulers, Area Council Chairmen and other stakeholders: their priorities, challenges and suggestions for input in the 2018 Budget.

The Minister assured the officials gathered at the occasion that the Administration is working to ensure early preparation of the 2018 budget while reiterating his renewed emphasis on bringing development closer to the people in the second phase of his Administration. He indicated that he would like to have every chiefdom benefit from one project or the other in the coming year.

According to him, “FCT administration is desirous of ensuring that the benefits of governance are felt at the grassroots. This is why the focus of the second half of this Administration would centre on education, health facilities, rural infrastructure among others.”

Malam Bello revealed that FCT is set to recruit 300 teachers to bridge the gap created by various retirements and other sources of manpower attrition in the sector. 

Stakeholders present at the occasion welcomed the IRS Chairman on Board, and expressed hope that the coming into force of the revenue agency would usher in an era of improved funding for the FCT Administration and provide more resources for meeting the infrastructural and utility needs of the Territory.

Mr. Abdullahi Oteh Attah is a 1978 Accountancy graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Born in January 15, 1952, he hails from Doma in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1987 and comes to the agency with a very impressive pedigree. He was General Manager Finance, NITEL, 1996 and later founding member of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC – 2003.

He was also former special adviser to the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS and a Director in the same organisation – 2010 until his retirement in 2013.

Mr. Attah is currently a member of the governing council of the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State. He is married and blessed with children.