CITN tasks government on tax practices

The President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Prince Kunle Quadri, has noted that  all levels of government in the country are yet to be aware of enormous advantages of taxation, especially as a major source of revenue.

Speaking during his three-day working visit to the Lagos District Society of the institute at the district’s new office, Quadri noted that lawmakers in Nigeria need more education on technical taxation matters.

He tasked practitioners in the country to ensure they live up to the challenge of providing informing and educating Nigerians on taxation issues.

He said,  “Government at all levels are doing so many things wrong, as regards taxation, because they are taking it from the end-point instead of taking it from the beginning”.

According to him, it was wrong for government at the federal, states and local council levels to put emphasis on enforcement of tax laws without first educating the taxpayers.

In his words: “Talking about what the institute is doing to ensure that the taxation profession is uplifted in this country. We’ve realised that we cannot run away from the technical issues that will involve us from time to time.

“So, we have no choice than to continue to put our voice into whatever is coming up. In the past few months, we’ve been able to make presentations at the National Assembly on virtually all tax matters.

“We’ve find out that a lot of our legislators still needs to be educated. It is admitted that generally tax education in this country is very low but then, it should not be as far as our legislators are concerned because taxation should be the bedrock on which our national economy is built.

“We’re hoping that very soon we’ll be able to have a training programme for our legislator. What we have been hearing is enforcement, enforcement, enforcement; from the federal to the states to local governments, everybody wants to enforce the tax laws. But the tax law that you want to enforce is not well known to the taxpayers. We’ve been calling on government to collaborate with us in educating the public, particularly when it comes to the basic education in respect of tax”.

On her part, Mrs. Tinuola Oyekan, Lagos District Chairman, expressed the willingness of the Institute to collaborate with the government to ensure that tax education is carried to the grassroots.

“So that when tax law compliance is enforced, there can be improved revenue generation for all tiers of government,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Ikeja district of the taxation regulating body has elected its executive. Barrister Chukwemeka Eze emerged the chairman, while Mr Samuel Agbeluyi and Mr. Richard Magaji were elected vice-chairman and deputy vice-chairman respectively.

Other members of the executive include, Funso Abidakun, general secretary, assisted by Uchegbu Donatus, Segun Fagbulu, treasurer, Rev. Christian Jite, social and publicity secretary and Barr. Salau Olusola legal adviser. Ex officio members are Tunde Fowler and Titi Ali.