Tax Reforms: Compliance Key To Economic Growth Amid Digital Overhaul – CITN

Calls for full tax compliance have intensified as Nigeria’s tax reforms take centre stage, with experts linking them to poverty reduction, improved productivity, and stronger institutions.

Speaking at the 4th Distinguished Personality Lecture and Annual Seminar of the Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT) in Abuja on Monday, leaders from the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) emphasised that widespread compliance is essential for the government to deliver infrastructure and social welfare.

The president and chairman, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) governing council, Innocent Ohagwa, urged Nigerians to be tax compliant at all times and at all levels.

He said: “The Tax reform is currently on the front burner, and we will encourage all Nigerians to be tax compliant to enable the government to serve the country well by providing the much-needed facilities and social welfare for all to benefit.”

In his goodwill message, the executive chairman of Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), represented by the director of Informal Sector, Dr Folashade Coker, said tax reform can lead to tangible national transformation. “It can help reduce poverty, improve productivity, create greater economic opportunities and help create strong institutions. So, this is a charge to all of us to promote good tax practices and promote the reform.”

The 6th national chairperson of SWIT and member CITN governing council, Dr Caroline Ndubuisi said the theme of the Seminar, “Structure to success, Nigeria’s Journey from Tax Reform to Economic Growth” was chosen to help give clarity to many misconceptions at the initial stage of the reform and enlighten the public about how the reforms will help bring about economic growth.

“Today we are speaking to taxpayers, tax administrators and everyone. Citizens must pay their taxes as due. Under this tax reform, there will be no issue of tax evasion due to digitalisation and e-invoicing. All these put together will help achieve compliance. So, I want to appeal to tax payers to please pay their taxes.”

Ndubuisi further said the seminar was also organised to build the capacity of its members and to honour and appreciate those who have achieved a lot in the tax profession, such as the 14th CITN president and SWIT life patron, Dame Gladys Olajumoke Simplice, and the 8th president of CITN, Dr Kamoru Adigun.

Speaking on the topic Society of Women in Taxation, Beyond the West Africa Sub- Region, one of the honourees, Dame Olajumoke Simplice, said SWIT serves as a professional platform for knowledge sharing, mentorship and large-scale networking amongst tax professionals, hence it must grow beyond the region and spread to other parts of the world.

She said the Society of Women in Taxation Nigeria actively advocates for reforms such as income-based tax thresholds and tax education specifically targeting women in the informal sector and will continue to advocate for the cause of women even as it launched SWIT Girl Child Endowment Fund at the event.

The 8th CITN president, who was also honoured at the event, Dr Kamoru Adigun, said the Society of Women in Taxation is a very unique organisation.

“SWIT has been doing so well in the area of training and mentoring young women in the tax space, so we are very proud of them and are always willing to identify with them.”