- Says President Tinubu means well for Nigerians
By Henry Uche, Lagos
President and Chairman of Council of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) Mr Samuel Agbeluyi has assured Nigerians that the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that citizens get the best of tax management even in this critical time.
Mr. Agbeluyi who is a member of the Committee gave this assurance yesterday during the Institute’s 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in its Tax Professionals’ House, Ikeja – Lagos.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, the CITN president again affirmed that president Bola Tinubu, the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and the aforementioned Committee are working hand in gloves to ensure that it deliver on mandate and make the lives of Nigerians better.
“We are in the state of moving forward, we have left the state of denial. The government is no longer denying the reality of taxation. And citizens are much aware to these realities. Moreover, President Bola Tinubu had expressed hatred for multiple taxation by reducing it from 65 to 9, and he made sure that was put to an end, hence the presidential committee to do the needful.
“Government require a lot of money to bridge the gap in infrastructure and other sectors. I believe we are in the right direction not only to improve tax revenue but to make Nigerians’ lives better and we shall deliver on mandate.
“We are committed to leveraging the skills, knowledge, reach and influence of our members across all sectors of the Nigerian economy to ensure effective implementation of the committee’s recommendations when the work is done and approved by the President.”
He advised State governors to equally strive to improve their tax management for the betterment of the people, saying “We don’t need multiplicity of tax, what we need is proper management of taxes collected.”
Earlier in his speech, he avowed that CITN under his leadership would continue to implement every initiatives aimed at promoting the institute and its mandate both at national and international space.
Some of his team’s strategies according to him, were designed to set the institute in the vanguard for national impact. They include collaboration and partnership, advocacy, and a conscientious effort to improve the welfare and capacity of its members and staff.
“The Institute visited the Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr. Shaakaa Chira, and urged him to collaborate on implementing its “Catch Them Young” program, which involves organising tax debates, quizzes, and competitions for teenagers and youths in secondary and tertiary institutions across Nigeria to build a sustainable tax culture.
“Discussions focused on strengthening professionalism in audit functions, collaboration on capacity building and advocating for enhanced professionalism in the Nigerian tax system.
“The Institute received a delegation from the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN). Highlight of the visit was to explore possibilities of strategic collaboration with CITN in advancing the fight against tax fraud, illicit financial flows and corruption in the country.”
He pledged to throw weight behind the Society of Women in Taxation, as well work harder to include Taxation in Academic Curriculum in all tertiary institutions across the nation. “Though 34 Tertiary Institutions are offering taxation programs at various academic levels, including Ph.D, MSc, MBA, BSc, HND, and ND. In line with our mandate and vision to enhance knowledge and awareness of taxation in Nigeria, we are actively collaborating with these institutions in the delivery of quality taxation education.
“To engender a lasting tax culture, especially among the younger generation, the Institute through its Association of Nigerian Taxation Students (ANTAS) hosts tax quizzes, essay contests, and debates in secondary schools and universities across Nigerian states.
“This “Catch Them Young Initiative” aims to engage and educate students, encouraging them to embrace taxation principles from an early stage. Tax clubs are increasingly being inaugurated across tertiary institutions in the country, all are geared towards advancing the tax profession and contributing to national development,” he added.
