BACCIMA Demands Fairness in Tax Refunds, Contract Payments

…..Danmaliki Urges FIRS, Government to End Delays Hurting Businesses

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The President of the Bauchi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA), Hon. Aminu Mohammed Danmaliki Dan Malikin Bauchi, has called on the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and government at all levels to end delays in Withholding Tax (WHT) refunds and contract payments to businesses.

Speaking at a press conference in Bauchi, Danmaliki said companies are compelled to suffer upfront deductions of 10 percent WHT from contract sums but rarely receive refunds even after meeting all tax obligations.

“Businesses face years of delay, corruption, and loss of working capital. This is unfair and cripples many small and medium enterprises,” he said.

He noted that while FIRS penalises taxpayers for late payments, the agency faces no consequences for delaying refunds.

“Fairness demands reciprocity. If taxpayers are penalized for delay, FIRS should also pay interest on delayed refunds,” he added.

Danmaliki also decried prolonged non-payment for executed government contracts, saying many contractors, especially SMEs, have been waiting years for payment despite certification of their projects.

“This is not just a financial issue but a social justice crisis that causes job losses and economic hardship,” he warned.

The Chamber urged a transparent, 30-day timeline for WHT refunds, interest and penalties on delayed refunds and contract payments, oversight by the Federal Ministry of Finance and National Assembly and legal protection for SMEs affected by delayed payments.

Danmaliki said Nigeria cannot build a fair economy on a one-sided system where only the private sector is held accountable.

“What we seek is not privilege, but fairness and equity,” he concluded.