A report by the Auditor-General of the Federation has unearthed tax irregularities amounting to N14.33bn across more than 30 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
The findings, disclosed in the Auditor-General’s Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses, highlight serious lapses in tax deductions, remittances, and compliance with financial regulations between 2020 and 2021.
The report revealed that six MDAs were responsible for N129.34m in under-deduction of taxes. Paragraphs 234 and 235 of the Financial Regulations (2009) mandate accounting officers to ensure that all applicable taxes, such as Value Added Tax and Withholding Tax, are deducted and remitted promptly to the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
However, the audit observed widespread breaches of these provisions. The Federal Road Safety Corps, Abuja, was identified as the highest offender, with an under-deduction of N90.57m, while the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja, recorded the smallest shortfall of N623,162.80.
Other agencies implicated include Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State; Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc, Abuja; National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna.
