Northern
Senators are poised for a battle with President Goodluck Jonathan
over his choice of Mr.M’fon Akpan as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS).
Senators are poised for a battle with President Goodluck Jonathan
over his choice of Mr.M’fon Akpan as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS).
They say the position should go to the North as against the
South which,in their opinion, has been in the saddle for almost a decade.
South which,in their opinion, has been in the saddle for almost a decade.
Besides, the Northern Senators are of the view that the process
of selection that led to Akpan’s emergence was predetermined to achieve a
political purpose.
of selection that led to Akpan’s emergence was predetermined to achieve a
political purpose.
But they are insisting on the retention of the outgoing Acting
Executive Chairman, Mr. Kabir Mashi, citing merit, having surpassed the revenue
target of N3.4trillion to over N5trillion.
Executive Chairman, Mr. Kabir Mashi, citing merit, having surpassed the revenue
target of N3.4trillion to over N5trillion.
It was gathered that the Northern Senators were shocked that
despite informal consultations by the President with them on the slot, he still
went ahead to pick a south south candidate when the zone has occupied the post
for almost 10 years.
The President forwarded his nomination to the Senate on
Wednesday for confirmation.
Wednesday for confirmation.
Investigation showed that the Senators immediately launched into
a series of meetings on Wednesday and Thursday where they resolved to stop the
President’s nominee from being cleared.
a series of meetings on Wednesday and Thursday where they resolved to stop the
President’s nominee from being cleared.
A top source in one of the meetings said: “For almost a year
now, we have been engaging the President in dialogue through some of our
members on the appointment of a new Executive Chairman for the FIRS.
now, we have been engaging the President in dialogue through some of our
members on the appointment of a new Executive Chairman for the FIRS.
“We suspected that the process was not transparent and we raised
the alarm. Subjecting such an appointment to a skewed test process was in
violation of Section 3(2) (a) — Federal Inland Revenue Act, 2007 that vested
the President with the authority to appoint any person of his choice into the
office.
the alarm. Subjecting such an appointment to a skewed test process was in
violation of Section 3(2) (a) — Federal Inland Revenue Act, 2007 that vested
the President with the authority to appoint any person of his choice into the
office.
“In fact, a Northern Senator, who should be part of the
selection panel, withdrew from the exercise because of alleged pre-determined
agenda.”
selection panel, withdrew from the exercise because of alleged pre-determined
agenda.”
A high-ranking Northern Senator said the forum would oppose the
nominee because the outgoing Mr. Mashi has performed beyond expectations.
nominee because the outgoing Mr. Mashi has performed beyond expectations.
“Mashi shot up the revenue from about N3trillion to more than
N5trillion from non-oil tax revenue windows alone. So, what is the basis for
not retaining such a person?
N5trillion from non-oil tax revenue windows alone. So, what is the basis for
not retaining such a person?
“We want to know why we have to go and bring in an expert from
the UK to do this job when we have more than 800 chartered accountants in the
FIRS.”
the UK to do this job when we have more than 800 chartered accountants in the
FIRS.”
Another Senator said the appointment of the new FIRS boss is
against the Federal Character Principle in 1999 Constitution.
against the Federal Character Principle in 1999 Constitution.
The Senator added: “What is the rationale of giving the
appointment to a candidate from the south south when the last occupant, Mrs.
Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, came from Edo State. She spent two terms in office.
appointment to a candidate from the south south when the last occupant, Mrs.
Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, came from Edo State. She spent two terms in office.
“We are 58 in the Senate out of 109 and we have reached a
consensus that we must stop the nominee because it is a breach of the Federal
Character Principle in the Constitution.”
consensus that we must stop the nominee because it is a breach of the Federal
Character Principle in the Constitution.”
A Senator said the Northern Senators’ Forum has been reaching
out to their southern colleagues to “allow equity, justice and sense of
belonging for all ethnic groups to prevail.”
out to their southern colleagues to “allow equity, justice and sense of
belonging for all ethnic groups to prevail.”
A government source, however, said the appointment of FIRS
Chairman should not be politicised.
Chairman should not be politicised.
His words: “This FIRS job is sensitive; it is about merit and
not ethnic politics. A tested professional in the UK is coming to add value to
what has been achieved.
not ethnic politics. A tested professional in the UK is coming to add value to
what has been achieved.
“The government engaged a competitive process in order to get
the nation the best. No one is faulting the credentials of Mashi, but he is
already due for retirement.
the nation the best. No one is faulting the credentials of Mashi, but he is
already due for retirement.
“We have been on the recruitment process since September, 2012.
This is to tell you that the government was painstaking without any hidden
agenda.”
This is to tell you that the government was painstaking without any hidden
agenda.”
Source: The Nation
