Business
FIRS Nets N3.72trn In 10 Months
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said it generated N3.72 trillion in the first 10 months of 2011 against the N3. 64 trillion target set by the Federal Government for the year.
The FIRS Coordinating Director, Tax Operations Group, Mr. Samuel Ogungbesan, told newsmen in Lagos on Friday that this covered the period of January to October.
He said that the figure exceeded the revenue target of N3. 64tn for the whole year and that the agency would also exceed its own revenue target of N4.35tn by December.
“Of the overall target set by the government, consisting of both oil and non-oil revenue, we have recorded an achievement of N2.47trn of oil revenue, translating to 148.13 per cent performance.
“Non-oil revenue of N1.29tn also accounted for 94.65 per cent at the end of October, 2011,” he said.
The Executive Chairman of the Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, in the statement, urged the FIRS management to work harder to entrench the self-assessment system of tax administration.
She said that under the self-assessment regime, tax payers would be allowed to file tax returns based on the assessment of themselves.
According to her, modern tax administration does not rely solely on the level of tax collection for the determination of efficiency or effectiveness.
She said that it also engaged other criteria like self-assessment filers and public perception of the tax agency in relation to its programmes and activities.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.