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Nigerians berate FG over threat to seize citizens’ bank savings
BY NICHOLAS ABE
Aggrieved Nigerians have poured out their disappointment at the Federal Government following an insensitive and poorly couched statement directing citizens to approach their banks and fill a self-certification form, said to be in line with the Income Tax Regulations 2019.
The statement which did not specify timeline for execution threatened citizens with “monetary penalty or inability to operate the account” in case of failure to comply with the order.
The announcement published on Thursday on the Federal Government’s official Twitter handle, @NigeriaGov reads:
“INFORMATION: This is to notify the general public that all account holders in Financial Institutions (Banks, Insurance Companies, etc) are required to obtain, complete and submit Self – Certification Forms to their respective Financial Institutions.
“Persons holding accounts in different financial institutions is required to complete & submit the form to each one of the institutions. The forms are required by the relevant financial institutions to carry out due diligence procedures in line with the Income Tax Regulations 2019.
“The self-certification form is in 3 categories: – Form for Entity – For Controlling Person (Individuals having controlling interest in a legal person, trustee, etc) – Form for individual.
“Failure to comply with the requirement to administer or execute this form attracts sanctions which may include monetary penalty or inability to operate the account. For more enquiries visit @firsNigeria website (http://firs.gov.ng) for more details.”
READ: https://reliablesourceng.com/senate-passes-bill-to-raise-vat-to-7-5/
No sooner had the announcement dropped than torrents of reactions began to pour in.
“What was all the stress for BVN, if you can’t connect needed information from BVN? Duplicity is a sign of ineptitude, inefficiency, wastage (time and funds). Please fold shop, if you want to take us on merry-go-round again. #Enough of duplicity and wastage,” tweeted Helen Francis @HellenaFr72.
Following on Helen’s heels was @MallamRaji who lent his voice, asking: “Shey na fight? Sometimes you honestly can’t help but agree with those who say this gov’t don’t have mercy & consideration for the poor, how much I dey get that you’re threatening me with sanction over tax I’m already paying thru my nose for corrupt officials to embezzle.”
The outburst continued: BEREMI @Adebayor86: “You people are clueless and very insensitive. We should go crowd up the banks in this Covid era. It’s like the masses are too tolerant and peaceful for you, so you just keep pushing us here and there. When you push the masses to the wall, be ready for what comes.”
Onu’kwube @RayNkah: “So eager to issue a WARNING; an irrelevant component of this notice, that you FAILED to state the DEADLINE when Nigerians are to comply with the directive. And does it not occur to you guys that many bank branches, particularly those in rural areas have been shut due to Covid-19?”
READ: https://reliablesourceng.com/youre-killing-us-with-your-demands-wike-to-federal-agencies/
BetsRus @oddminers: “Una no dey taya to milk the citizens? Thieves. Double, triple, quadruple taxations.. even the government is not aware of its various apparatus that duplicate duties and multi tax citizens. Its time to start keeping money under pillow.”
Ifeanyichukwu @Afu_Dimkpa1: “So if this whole nonsense is for income tax, what happens to students and unemployed people that have bank accounts? You expect them to go waste their time in the banks for what dont concern them. As if they don’t their accounts will be frozen. Ọ kwa ya? Thunder where art thou?”
Olateju Atinuke @olateju8: “Kin ni gbogbo ratirati yii. A ma se nnkan o. This government no go kill us. In this pandemic you want BANKS to be over crowded for this duplication. Won sepe fun yin ni. I think they just give this thing to baba and he will just sign it. A ma rogo o.”
Adebayo @Adebayo96602463: “Nigeria @60 indeed ain’t we too backward? So Bvn is useless niyen nah waohhh o. God help Us. We need Great thinkers and Innovative minds in some areas obviously.”
Jay @priorityconcep1: “The inconsistent policy of this govt is becoming unbearable. Because you are on a revenue drive does not mean you will strangle us with draconian policies. People came from diff part of the world to register for BVN and now you’re telling me I won’t operate my account.”