The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has summoned some government agencies over allegations of non remittance of taxes.
The Chairman of the Committee Oluwole Oke who issued the summon said the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ministry of Industry and the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority are to appear before the committee to clarify the allegations of non remittance of taxes to the federation account by major players in the maritime sector.
According to him the resolution was reached after an interactive with major players in the sector by members of the committee who wanted to know if Tenaris Global Services Nigeria Ltd remitted taxes to the relevant government agencies.
The company appeared before the House Committee following a petition by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation against its perceived Sharp practices
The Chairman while questioning the representatives of the company expressed worry that most of the oil companies in the Zone were deliberately shortchanging the Federal Government with the connivance of government agencies.
He added that relevant government agencies would also be invited to give more insight into the tax compliance status of the company at the next meeting.
Oke however stated that the Committee was not out to witchunt any company but rather was acting based on the petition received from the appropriate quarters.
Other Agencies that appeared before the Committee includes Federal Character Commission and the Bureau of Public Procurement who submitted various documents in defence of the queries issued them by the Auditor General of the Federation.
Aisha Adesanya/Abuja