Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Muhammad Nami is in hot soup.

The FIRS boss has been accused of conniving with oil companies operating in Nigeria to evade tax remittances running into trillions of Naira.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee Investigating the Structure and Accountability of the Joint Venture (JV) Businesses and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) of the National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata disclosed this on Monday, November 21st, 2022 at the Committee’s sitting.

The Committee Chairman and other panelists are very angry with the FIRS Chairman for his absence despite his invitation to appear before the Committee.

They condemned the impunity of the FIRS boss, stressing that he should appear before the Committee at an adjourned date or risk being compelled to appear by Security agents.

According to the Committee, the probe exercise was in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

However, Chevron Nigeria Ltd. representatives cum Director, Monday Ovuede said that Chevron has no Certificate of Acceptance of Fixed Assets (CAFA) despite enjoying capital allowances over the years.

Ovuede led the company’s delegation to the probe panel on behalf of the Managing Director/CEO who is on leave in abroad.

The Committee lamented that Nigeria was being shortchanged in tax payment into the coffers of the Federal Government, hence, will probe the activities of several oil companies from 1990 till date.

The Chairman said having no Certificate of Acceptance of Fixed Assets constitute gross violation of law in Nigeria, adding that ignorance wasn’t an excuse.

The Committee disclosed that Chevron Nigeria Ltd. charged Qatar the sum of $1.8 billion, the same project it charged Nigeria the sum of $10.5 billion, insisting that the company shortchanged Nigeria.

The Qatar projects, (Escravos GTL) was completed on time at $1.8 billon but that of Nigeria which they charged at $10.5 took a longer time.

Meanwhile, Chevron said the Nigeria EGTL was initially awarded at $2.9 billon but later reviewed to $10.5 billon to its sub contractors, adding that the initial completion date was supposed to be in 2009, but it was extended to 2014.

The lawmakers said: “For Chevron on its own to review a project from around $2.9 billon to $10.5 billon to its sub-contractors and expect Nigeria government to pay it in the name of Joint Venture with NNPC is a clear sign of shady deal and sharp practices in the oil and gas industry.”

“Chevron is a USA-based company, but American government will never tolerate that kind of practice where a company in partnership with a government agency will unilaterally review cost of contract.”