By Babajide Komolafe
President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Prince Kunle Quadri, has called for autonomy of tax agencies in the country.

“Efforts should be made to give independence to the tax authorities by making such bodies attain the status of autonomy”, he said in Lagos

“Except the revenue agent is totally independent with powers to carry out its assignments without hindrance but in compliance with the dictates of the law, government shall continue to lose revenue”, he said at the post 11th annual general meeting luncheon of the International Chamber of Commerce , (ICC)

In a paper titled, “Reforming the Nigerian tax system for effective global competition”, he called the government involve all stakeholders in the implementation of the tax reforms and ensure that only professionals man the tax agencies.

He said, “On the other hand, while commending the Federal Government on the achievements so far in reforming the system, there is need to ensure that stakeholders are carried along towards the complete implementation of the tax reform. Unless and until it is recognised that the Nigerian tax system should be left in the hands of professionals who had been trained to carry out their professional duties, the system shall

continue to complain of such vices as multiple taxation, inefficient and ineffective administration, obsolete tax laws, extortion, evasion and low IGR.   The political will of government shall be a morale booster for the improvement of the state’s IGR.

Where competent professionals are manning the Internal Revenue Service and they are in touch with the reality of the system, they will be able to come up with creative ways to improve the collection machinery and administration.
Improving the tax administration system alone would not bring the Nigerian tax system to the required standard.

Efforts should be made to the extent that touting and quackery are eliminated within the system. The challenge is to ensure that tax matters are only assigned to Chartered Tax Practitioners trained to carry out these assignments.  The fact remains that CITN has the disciplinary machinery to discipline any member found wanting in the discharge of his work either to his client or employer.”