By Nwabueze Okonkwo

In a bid to deepen conversation on tax awareness and enlightenment in Anambra State, the management of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, AiRS held a one-day interactive session on tax awareness and enlightenment.

In a communique issued at the end of  the one-day interactive forum which took place in Awka, the Anambra state capital and which was held in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, CITN, the organizers enumerated the economic benefits of formalizing the informal sector in the drive for tax payments.

In the communique, Chairman/Moderator of the interactive forum, Barr. B.O Austine Ngozika, (FCTI),  immediate past Chairman of Ikeja District Society of CITN and member, Tax Policy and Adminstration Faculty, CITN highlighted the importance of increasing internal revenues through tax payments.

Also in the communique, the lead paper presenter at the event, Nze Sullivan Akachukwu Nwankpo, former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Technical Matters, in his paper presentation x-rayed the activities of the formal and informal sectors vis-a-vis the economic situation, the challenges of tax compliance, the benefits of formalization and as well proffered meaningful suggestions and strategies on what the AiRS should do in order to effectively formalize the informal Sector.

Nwankpo enumerated some of such strategies to include Promotion of entrepreneurs and simplify registration processes.

Other strategies, he highlighted, included the simplification of tax laws, offer of tax breaks and incentives, provision of support services, raising of tax awareness, targeted incentives, labour laws  and coperate social responsibility, Tax mediation amongst others.

Earlier in his opening remark, the Chairman/Chief Executive Anambra State Internal Revenue Service AiRS, Dr Greg Ezeilo (FCA, ACTI),  stated that tax payment is a statutory obligation of every citizen, adding that the AiRS under his leadership is taking that bold step to begin the formalization of the informal Sector, hence the tax enlightenment program.

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Also addressing the audience as part of the discussants, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR on IGR Technical, Mrs. Oyeka Amara Kate, dwelt extensively on making the tax registration (ASIN registration) process seamless while emphasizing on the technological contributions of the AiRS Solution provider,

She also dwelt on Oasis Management Technologies in ensuring that the informal Sector are being taxed electronically, adding that plans are underway to flag off new seamless technological innovations for revenue collections on transport operators in the State to be called  ‘Trans-Pay’, newly created AiRS customer care department and increase in tax awareness as part of the efforts towards Formalizing the Informal Sector.

Highpoints of the event was the award presentation to the AiRS Chairman, Dr Greg Ezeilo FCA ACTI for his giant strides in revenue administration and collection in Anambra State by the Vice President CITN, Innocent Ohagwa who represented the CITN president. Mr Samuel Agbeluyi MNI, FCTI.

Members of the session/discussants included Prince Ikenna Umezulike, Lady Ngozi Monica Okonkwo (former Ag, Anambra State), Mr Nweke Clement Ubaka, (Chairman CITN Awka District and Society) and Mrs. Oyeka Amara Kate, FCA, FCTI (SSA IGR to Governor of Anambra State).

The Executive Director in charge of Direct Assessment AiRS, Mr Ben Anierobi Okafor MBA FCA gave a closing remark at the end of the event.

Other dignitaries present at the event were Chief of Staff to Gov Soludo, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, Dr Chukwudi Okoli, (Current Ag, Anambra State), Mr Ayodeji Adeyemi (Head, Research and Professional Standard, CITN) amongst others.