The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) has said it is criminal to violate the provisions of the Stamp Duty Act.
Manager Legal Department of the Rivers State branch, Mansurat Aderonke Abdulraheem spoke at a forum at the International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, to sensitise officials of Federal Airport Authorities of Nigeria (FAAN) and Airline Operators, on the need to comply with the Stamp Duty Act.
Abdulraheem said non-compliance with the act is a criminal offence and appealed for the people’s cooperation.
Drawing reference from Section 89(2) of the Stamp Duties Act CAP 8, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004, Abdulraheem said the Act provides that “every receipt, voucher, contract note, agreement etc, given by any person in acknowledgement of goods purchased or services rendered, should be denoted by an adhesive postage stamp”.
“What this means is that in our daily dealings in our private life, a N50 stamp is required on every receipt of anything which cost N,1000 and above. This means that your goods will not be released at police checkpoints if you provide any other evidence of purchase other than the N50 postage stamp (stamp duty).
“What this means is that the transaction is illegal and can make the convener liable to prosecution,” she said.
Mrs. Abdulraheem urged Nigerians to begin to request that their receipts and documents of transaction be affixed with the stamp to avoid unnecessary hassle.
According to her, the sensitisation was necessary following the need to begin the enforcement of the act to raise funds for government’s projects and activities.
The Area Postal Manager, Rev. Danso Olusola, noted that the Act is neither a new law nor another form of taxation, but a requirement by law to ensure authenticity of business transactions and/or contractual documents to make them admissible.
According to her, the law is as old as Nigeria, having been enacted by an Act of Parliament on April 1, 1939.
She stressed that the sensitisation forum was meant to enlighten stakeholders on the enforcement of the Act applicable to NIPOST, by understanding the legal content through enabling laws.
“NIPOST, being a government agency, is empowered to sell adhesive postage stamps for the Federal Government for various purposes. NIPOST has also been authorised to monitor compliance and report any government agency, public or private organisations, that fails to affix a N50 stamp on receipts issued to acknowledge payment for services rendered or goods supplied.
“NIPOST does not administer stamp duty but sells adhesive postage stamps for the government which are used, among other things, for denoting receipts for the purpose of compliance to a section of stamp duties Act,” she said.
Representative of the Deputy General Manager of FAAN, Ikechukwu T. Onwuka, lauded NIPOST’s efforts and pledged compliance. According to him, the law will raise more funds for the government to carry out more projects in the airports.