Three FG agencies spend N533bn on revenue collection

Three major revenue-generating agencies in Nigeria deducted a total of N533.11bn as costs of revenue collection in the first seven months of 2024, according to findings by The PUNCH.

The agencies include the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service, and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

This figure, derived from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee reports published by the National Bureau of Statistics, marks a substantial increase of 99.85 per cent compared to the N266.75bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2023.

The FIRS and NUPRC deducted about four per cent of the cost of revenue collection, while the NCS received seven per cent.

The cost of collection is usually deducted at the monthly FAAC meeting before the federally collected revenues are shared with the three tiers of government and other statutory recipients.

Among the three revenue-generating agencies, the FIRS deducted the largest share of the cost of collection in the first seven months of 2024, totalling N254.82bn, which accounts for about 47.8 per cent of the combined N533.11bn.

FIRS’s share covers Value Added Tax, company income taxes, and other revenue sources critical to the government’s fiscal operations.

In 2024, FIRS deducted N254.82bn as a cost of collection, a 61.55 per cent increase compared to N157.73bn in 2023.

Monthly breakdowns reveal fluctuating trends, with the agency collecting N43.35bn in January 2024, a significant rise from N18.14bn in January 2023.

July 2024 saw the highest spike, with FIRS deducting N55.13bn, an increase of 0.01 per cent compared to July 2023’s similar collection.

The NCS followed as the second-largest recipient, with N147.64bn, representing around 27.7 per cent of the total amount shared among the agencies.

This amount highlights the NCS’s role in managing customs duties and excise collections from imports and exports. The agency’s higher collection costs are likely due to the increase in import duty.

NCS reported a total of N147.64bn as its cost of collection in the first seven months of 2024, showing a marked increase of 114.49 per cent from N68.86bn in the same period in 2023.

The NUPRC deducted N130.64bn, about 24.5 per cent of the total cost of collection. NUPRC’s share is notable given its oversight of the upstream oil and gas sector, which remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy.

NUPRC, which regulates Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas activities, deducted N130.64bn as a cost of collection in 2024, a sharp increase of 225.33 per cent from N40.16bn in 2023.

Based on a monthly breakdown, the three revenue-generating agencies—FIRS, NCS, and NUPRC—recorded a total cost of collections amounting to N78.30bn in January 2024, marking a 129.98 per cent increase compared to N34.05bn in the same month of last year.

In February 2024, collections totalled N66.46bn, representing a 142.03 per cent increase from the N27.45bn recorded in the same month of 2023.

March 2024 saw the agencies share N69.54bn, a 121.79 per cent rise compared to N31.35bn in March 2023.

In April 2024, collections remained steady at N69.54bn, closely aligning with the previous month’s figures but showing a significant increase compared to N31.35bn in April 2023.

May 2024 saw a boost in collections, reaching N80.52bn, which represents a 159.09 per cent increase from N31.07bn in May 2023.

In June 2024, the total cost of collections amounted to N76.65bn, up 100.47 per cent from N38.24bn in June 2023, with FIRS playing a pivotal role through its strengthened revenue drive.

July 2024 recorded the highest collection figures for the period, totalling N92.11bn, which is a 25.85 per cent increase from the N73.24bn collected in July 2023.

While the surge may indicate intensified regulatory activities, it also highlights the effect of inflation and naira devaluation in boosting tax earnings.

Also, the significant increase in the cost of revenue collection by the FIRS, NCS, and NUPRC has sparked calls for a review from state finance commissioners.

According to a recent Agora Policy report, the issue with the cost-of-collection arrangement is not just the agencies collecting more revenue, but the disproportionate allocation at the expense of states facing numerous challenges.

During a stakeholder consultation with public policy analysts and journalists in Abuja, the Presidential Fiscal and Tax Reforms Committee, led by Taiwo Oyedele, recommended reducing the cost of revenue collection to one per cent, aligning with global best practices where even high-revenue countries like South Africa spend less than one per cent.

Oyedele noted that the current cost of revenue collection in the country ranges between four per cent and 35 per cent, a situation he said was totally unacceptable.

Commenting, an economist and Professor of Economics at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sheriffdeen Tella, stated that the cost of collection involves operational expenses incurred during revenue collection.

He noted, however, that an audited account will determine whether the current percentage charged is accurate.

He said, “The usage of technology is one of the ways used to collect revenue and that is also part of the costs. Alternatively, it is possible that they had to travel to get some revenue. That also constitutes part of its costs.

“But I think it would be difficult to get the accurate amount unless their account is audited, it would be difficult to calculate the amount spent on costs. Let them audit their accounts and if it’s properly audited, the auditors will tell them if the amount is too much and then there can be an agitation for a reduced percentage on cost collection.”

Another economist, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that the cost of collection is roughly equal to what the agencies spend to collect the revenue.

The expert stated, “They deploy a lot of manpower, technological infrastructure and other necessary items. So, a good part of their running costs as an institution is covered by that amount generated through the cost of collection. Although they have an approved budget most of their revenue to run those institutions is from the amount generated through the cost of collection.

“These agencies also have huge overhead costs, so it is easy to see how it is used to cover their cost of operations. Their core mandate in addition to regulatory functions is to generate revenue.”