The House of Representatives is irked over a paltry remittance of about N700 million annually as taxes by 21 licensed operators to the federal government since the inception of the industry 11 years ago.
Consequently, the law makers have resolved to probe the licensed operators and stakeholders in the sector, Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Commission and Lottery Trust Funds.
While considering a motion enitled “Need to Investigate licensed Lottery Operators for defaulting in their financial obligation to Federal government of Nigeria”, the House empowered its Committee on Governmental Affairs to conduct the investigation.
Addressing a section of the House of Representatives correspondents at the weekend, Hussaini Suleiman Kangiwa, chairman of the committee, who flanked by some members of the committee, described N700 million per annum as “uninspiring and unacceptable” for a country with a population of about 180 million.
According to him, available records showed that Nigeria’s sister countries of Morocco, Code’Ivore and Togo with less population remitted N13.4 billion, N2.7 billion and N1.2 billion respectively to their governments, all at the exchange of N305.
He hinted that the probe would span through 13 years of the lottery activities precisely from 2005 to date.
The law maker recalled: “The House of Representatives at its plenary on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, concluded debates on the above motion and referred same to the Committee on Governmental Affairs, with a mandate to investigate the activities of licensed lottery operators from 2005 to date, with a view to ensuring that tax defaulters among them were made to pay promptly.
“That the federal government receives an average of about N700 million only annually as statutory remittances from 21 Licensed Lottery Operators since inception of the industry 11 years ago.
“Nigeria with a population of about 180 million people such a meagre remittance is uninspiring and unacceptable and therefore should not be allowed to continue unchecked especially now that the country is in dire need of revenues from all sources.
“Data from lottery records from other African country show that: Moroccco with a population of about 32 million (2016) remitted a total sum of $43 million which is equivalent to N13.4 billion
“Code’Ivore with a population of about 23 million people remitted in the same year about $8.9 million which is equivalent to N2.7 billion.
“Togo remitted about $3.7 million equivalent to about N1.2 billion to the government (all at the exchange of N305) just to mention but a few.
“All the above date from our sister African Countries reflects a good lottery industry structure and regulatory environment. We believe that Nigeria’s Lottery industry holds far greater potential from growth and returns for investment if properly managed.
“In the same vein, the Committee is making arrangement to invite the Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lottery Trust Funds, all the Licensed Operators and all stakeholders for an investigative hearing very soon to ascertain the reason why returns from Nigeria lottery industry is very poor compare to our sister African countries.”
The Chairman who opined that the lottery sector could be another money spinner for the country also assured Nigerians of a thorough investigation that would produce encouraging results.
“The Committee wishes to assure Nigerians that after this investigation hearing, our country lottery sector would add value to our National Economic growth and development.
“From this comparative analysis therefore, we can safely conclude that if proper attention is given to lottery industry in Nigeria, it is going to present a veritable alternative to oil industry,” Kangiwa said.
