Reps Committee queries FIRS for spending N45.6 million on 5-day hotel accommodation

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been queried by the Federal House of Representatives for spending a whooping sum of N45.6 million on a five day accommodation.

The revenue agency spent the amount sometime in 2016 for accommodation of its officials at Transcorp Hilton hotel which was discovered during the House Committee on Public Account’s investigation of financial transactions of the agency.

Earlier, the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation has queried the FIRS, which prompted the lower legislative Chambers to compel appearance of Mr Mohammed Nami before it for explanation.

House Committee Chairman on Public Finance, Hon. Oluwole Oke announced that the FIRS had in December 2016 spent the sum of N45.6 million without details of how the fund was spent.

Suspiciously, the Chairman said the amount was for a room according to records made available to the Committee without records for the number of persons that the amount was paid for.

The panel, therefore, summoned the Transcorp Hilton management to come and make clarification within seven days.

Also, further query was slammed at the FIRS for awarding a contract to a firm, Core Media, despite not meeting up tax clearance at the time of the award, saying that the action of the agency violated provisions of Nigerian laws.

The panel expressed surprise that the FIRS which should know better offered contract to a company that was tax-deficient.