Some businessmen in the private sector are said to be lobbying President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the amnesty period for VAIDS compliance beyond its deadline of March 30. VAIDS is the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme introduced to encourage accurate tax payment compliance.
NAN claimed a presidency official told it governors and company owners had called the President and Vice President to push for the extension of the programme.
“We are expecting Mr President to make an announcement on the tax amnesty deadline by this weekend”, said the source.
Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance, has consistently stated that the Federal Government is willed to enforce punishments against defaulters and had been gathering evidence to prosecute them. She also claimed the Bank Verification Number has proved a veritable means of evidence gathering as well as engaging foreign private investigation firms on tracing assets of Nigerians abroad.
Also, the Federal Government plans to use the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit records and land ownership records in locations like Maitama, Asokoro, Garki, Wuse, Banana Island, Magodo, Lekki, Ikoyi, and Victoria Island. Category of Nigerians being targeted include people to whom foreign exchange was allocated over time and private jets owners.
