FIRS budget: Senate approves N974m for cleaning, fumigation

The Senate yesterday approved N146 billion for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in 2017 with N975 million provided for cleaning and fumigation service.

The approval followed consideration of the report of Senate Committee on Finance chaired by Senator John Enoh during plenary session yesterday.

The service got the Senate nod to spend N1.5bn on generator fuel cost, N650m for motor vehicle fuel cost, N750m for refreshment and meals, N2.750bn for publicity advert and taxpayers education, N 1.3bn for welfare packages (in 2016, the service got N530m for this), and N120m for sporting activities.

The Senate slashed down the N1.750bn proposal for the purchase of vehicles to N1.5bn and inserted N200m for what it tagged annual budget expenses and administration.

On social benefits, the Senate approved N700m for reward for outstanding service, N50m for death benefits. The service is to spend N2.1bn for both local and foreign grants and contributions.

The Senate also approved N1.3b for utility charges which include electricity, telephone, internet, satellite water and sewage charges.

Our correspondent reports that the FIRS budget has already been passed by the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the Senate has stepped down the budget of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sugar Development Council, Industrial Training Fund, Standard Organization of Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) among others for further legislative actions.