President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) to June 30, 2018.
The short extension after the original March 31 date is based on the appeals of professional bodies and individual taxpayers.
The president, however, said no further extension of time would be approved after June 30.
VAIDS is a tax amnesty programme which started on July 1, 2017.
With the programme, tax defaulters have an opportunity to regularise their taxes without being fined or sent to prison for tax evasion.
But as the programme was about to come to a close, some state governments, individuals and organisations put pressure on government for an extension.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, confirmed the pressure and gave a hint that the programme might be extended.
In the statement announcing the extension of the programme on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president added that a new date was also given, based on the conviction of the Ministry of Finance that the overall objective to increase compliance would be attained, and additional revenue would accrue.
He said a fresh Executive Order would be made to give legal backing to the new timeline.
“For a nation of people who are competitive and driven, it is not a pride that we are the lowest performer in tax to GDP, not just in Africa, but in the world.
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“Nigeria’s growth needs are such that every Nigerian must do his duty to his nation, to his neighbour, and to himself.
“Hiding monies overseas, evading taxes by manipulation, and other unwholesome practices, have never developed a country, and for Nigeria to attain her true potential, these must stop.
“The president urged Nigerian companies and individuals to join government in the rebuilding mission, “and do the right thing by taking this window of extension to regularize,” he quoted Buhari as saying.
He added that the president said the right thing might not be convenient or comfortable, “but in the long run, we will all have a nation we can be proud of.”
He said the president further urged tax authorities to use the extension window to perfect plans to prosecute those who might fail to regularise their tax status.
The statement issued reads further: “VAIDS is one of the key policies being used by the Federal Government to reposition the Nigerian economy and correct inherited underdevelopment.
“The country has one of the lowest tax collection rates in the world at just 6% of GDP.
“This was partially a function of the reliance on oil that saw us abandon the historical revenue collection systems and switch to a culture of sharing resources, rather than generating them.
“President Buhari had last year launched the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), and the VAIDS tax amnesty is first in the series of reforms that will transform our tax system and provide sustainable predictable funding for all tiers of government.
“Tax revenues will ensure that public infrastructure is provided, and public services are funded to improve the lives of the people.
“Taxes redistribute wealth from those who have more to those who have less, and VAIDS is one of the windows to achieve such.”
