FIRS, Afriopolitan Trains Journalists On Tax Processes

As part of efforts to engender a transparent and efficient tax administration system that optimises revenue collection and voluntary compliance, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in collaboration with Afriopolitan Media Limited, has commenced capacity building of journalists in order to effectively sensitise the citizens on the imperative of meeting their obligations.

The training with the theme: “The Role of the FIRS in Driving the Nation’s Tax Administration for Nation-building” took place at the Southgate Hotel in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State.

In her welcome address at the one-day event, the chief executive officer, Afropolitan Media Limited, Hajiya A’isha Umar Halilu, said the workshop aimed to bring participants up to date on current challenges faced by tax authorities like the FIRS and the importance of the media reporting these challenges ethically and responsibly in close collaboration with the FIRS and other tax bodies at the sub-national levels and for the education of the taxpaying public.

She said FIRS under the leadership of its Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, has initiated various reforms for effective tax administration in the country, and re-emphasized its transformative commitment to achieve full automation of the tax system in Nigeria.

She said tax is the way forward for Nigeria as a country to carry out its duties and responsibilities to the citizens, saying that the oil sector presently contributes only a fraction to the monies needed to sustain the country.

According to her, FIRS was the biggest contributor to the Federation Account in 2021 as against the past when oil money provided almost 90 percent fund for running the country.

She commended Nami and the FIRS for supporting the capacity-building training programme for media professionals in the country.

Malam Shehu Olaitan Mohammed, managing partner at Shehu Mohammed & Co. in his paper titled, “General Overview of the Nigerian Tax Ecosystem”, said the importance of tax payment to the development of the nation cannot be underestimated.

He said citizens have the responsibility by law to pay their taxes and failure of which would attract sanctions.