The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has allocated N825 million for refreshment, N250 million for security vote, and N160 million for the sewing of drivers’ uniforms in its 2019 budget.
Babatunde Fowler, FIRS Chairman, announced this while presenting the FIRS budget on Monday, in Abuja.
The National Assembly Joint Committee queried FIRS 2019 projected estimate of non-oil revenue tax collection of N146.54 billion.
The committee sought to know why the 2018 approved estimate was N153.85 billion, while the 2019 projected cost stood at N146.54, amounting to 4.75 per cent decrease.
On personnel cost, the committee asked why the service was proposing 14.6 per cent increase in number of staff from 7, 854 in 2018 to 9000 staff in 2019.
It equally demanded explanation for the “proposed N160 million meant to sew drivers’ uniforms, N825 million for refreshment and security vote of N250 million among others.”
Fowler pointed out that noted that the proposed increase in staff strength was due to the recruitment of staff scheduled in 2019.
He further explained that N160 million was earmarked to sew uniforms for the 850 drivers of the service, adding that the amount budgeted for security vote was meant to attend to some security issues, particularly those not receipted for.