The Nigerian government has compiled the list of 500 Nigerians, some of them prominent citizens who have homes abroad and who have been tax dodgers.
Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, informed the National Economic Council on Thursday that the list of about 500 Nigerians, who also had trusts abroad had been obtained to determine their tax compliance status at home.
She explained that such Nigerians could take advantage of the Voluntary Assets & Income Declaration Scheme, VAIDS, to settle past taxation defaults.
She said letters would soon be going out to the tax dodgers, including a number of prominent ones, asking them to take advantage of the tax amnesty in order to avoid prosecution and fines by simply paying up their tax defaults.
The amnesty is available till March next year.
At the Council meeting which was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, an ad-hoc committee, a creation of the council, reported that a number of revenue-generating agencies might have significantly under-remitted returns to the Federation Account, from 2010 to 2015.
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She further informed that the Council had previously ordered the forensic audit to review remittances of the agencies covering 2010 to May 2015.
She said while Council received an updated interim report, a final report was awaited next month.
She added further: “Council was also informed of questionable loans granted by some of the Revenue Generating Agencies.
“Out of the 18 agencies in which forensic audit was conducted, the committee completed work on 13 agencies, 2 are ongoing and 3 are not revenue generating.
“The 13 agencies where the audit had been completed include: NIMASA, NNPC, NPA, FIRS, NPDC, DPR, etc.
“The 2 outstanding agencies are the Customs Service and NCC.
“The National Economic Council has directed the Committee to conclude its report under four weeks and fully report back to council in the next meeting.”
