The executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui–Okauru, has faulted media reports published by some dailies Tuesday (excluding LEADERSHIP) which
purportedly quoted her as expressing disagreement with the federal government on the planned removal of oil subsidy.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP by the FIRS’ director, Corporate Communication, Mr. Emmanuel Obeta, Omoigui- Okauru insisted that the report credited to her was false on the grounds that she neither made such a pronouncement or attended a public hearing by the House of Representatives nor was she in Abuja on Friday.
The statement reads in part, “There were various strands of the same report in several dailies, suggesting that there is a crack within government over the economic policy direction of the federal government.
“The FIRS wishes to state that as an agency of the federal government, the question of disagreement with the policy direction of the federal government is not plausible, nor could it be contemplated.
“Contrary to insinuations in the media, Mrs. Okauru was neither at the meeting held on Friday, October 28, 2011 nor was she in Abuja on that day as she was on another official assignment. No discussions have ever taken place on the issue in question.”
“The Coordinating Director, Corporate Development Group, Mr. Osy Chuke represented the Executive Chairman, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru at the House of Representative Committee’s meeting on the 2012-2015 Medium-Term Fiscal Framework and 2012 Fiscal Strategic Plan held on Friday, October 28 2011 but no discussion took place. Rather, members of the House Committee specifically requested for Revenue estimates to be provided and presented on Monday, October 31, 2011.
“The FIRS wishes to restate that as an agency of the Federal Government it is working, in unison, with President Goodluck Jonathan and all members of his dedicated team to institute and implement policies and programmes that will provide sustainable revenue for the development of our country.