Umaru Tanko Al-Makura
The Economic Team of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has begun negotiations for the remittance of income tax from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on its workers residing in the state.
Nasarawa has proximity to the FCT and hosts many workers in Abuja at the Greater Karu area, running through Nyanya, Mararraba, Ado, Masaka, New Nyanya, Auta Balefi and other towns in Karu Local Government Area.
Professor Muhammad Akaro Mainoma, head of the economic team told Daily Trust that the state government was eyeng income tax overlooked by previous administrations – even during the old Plateau State days – from the FCTA.
Mainoma who is also the commissioner for finance, disclosed that the government has put machinery in motion towards getting income taxes from workers residing in the state, including the ones in the employ of the FCTA.
Prof. Mainona noted that a large number of FCTA workforce reside in the Greater Karu area of Nasarawa State, expressing concern that “income taxes from them is never remitted to the state from their employers.”
He insisted that the Nasarawa State government would demand for the remittance of previous years, since the creation of the state.
He said Lagos State remits 20 percent of income tax to Ogun State because of its workforce, which resides there, but that Nasarawa did not intend to negotiate for percentage; rather, it would take “100 percent of the income tax.”
He said the residency rule provides that “it is where you stay that you pay your income tax”, and stressed that Nasarawa would soon complete arrangements to write the FCTA, to begin to get the remittance of the revenue. He said the state was having difficulties identifying the workforce residing in Nasarawa, but as soon as a planned census exercise was conducted and their data captured, the state would swing into action, liaising with the FCTA for the remittance.
