Taxpayers Demand Accountability As CITN Deepens Tax Reform Campaign In Kwara

Taxpayers in Kwara State have called on governments at all levels to demonstrate greater transparency and accountability in the management of tax revenues, insisting that visible evidence of prudent spending would encourage more Nigerians to comply voluntarily with tax obligations.

The demand came as the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Ilorin and District Society, intensified public enlightenment on Nigeria’s tax reforms through market sensitisation campaigns, tax clinics, roadshows and professional engagements held during its 2026 Annual Tax Week in Ilorin.

The week-long programme, themed “Tax Awareness for National Growth Through Reforms, Compliance and Shared Prosperity,” featured visits to major markets, including Oja Tuntun, Mandate Market and Oja Oba, where traders and business owners interacted with tax professionals and government officials on compliance, record keeping and the implementation of the new tax laws.

Chairman of CITN Ilorin and District Society, Mr. Taofiq Alabi, said feedback from residents showed that taxpayers were willing to fulfil their civic obligations but expected governments to be more transparent in the use of public funds.

“What really stands out in all the locations we visited is that the public wants more transparency from the government. They believe taxes are being paid, but they are not fully convinced that the proceeds are being effectively utilised,” Alabi said.

He described the outreach as an opportunity for taxpayers to seek professional guidance on tax-related issues while resolving concerns affecting compliance.

Speaking during the tax awareness walk across major parts of Ilorin, a legal  Nigeria, Prof. Yusuf Ali(SAN)  described taxation as a critical tool for national development, urging Nigerians to embrace voluntary compliance.

He added that sustained public enlightenment remained the key to successful tax reforms.

Director of Administration and Operations at the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), Mr. Lakadri Yusuf, described taxation as the backbone of sustainable development, saying the extensive efforts invested in the country’s tax reform process underscored its national importance.

Kwara State Auditor-General, Alh Alayande Fatai Olajide, described the sensitisation exercise as timely, saying it would help eliminate misconceptions surrounding the new tax reforms.

The state’s Deputy Accountant-General, Hajia Abdulraheem Yetunde, also urged individuals and businesses to obtain Tax Identification Numbers, file accurate returns and comply with tax obligations to support national development.

At the dinner and award ceremony marking the end of the Tax Week, Alabi said the reforms introduced by the Federal Government had transformed Nigeria’s tax administration by promoting simplicity, transparency, digital innovation and fairness.

He noted that key reforms include the transition from the Federal Inland Revenue Service to the Nigeria Revenue Service, improved tax thresholds for small businesses and the introduction of the Electronic Fiscal System to automate tax administration.

Kwara state commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, commended CITN for sustaining public enlightenment campaigns, saying the roadshows and market outreach had strengthened tax education across the state.

Nuru disclosed that the state had digitised tax collection and filing processes while implementing business-friendly reforms to attract more investments.

Chairman of the Annual Tax Week Planning Committee, Mrs. Idris Mulikat Abosede, said the objective of the programme was to take tax education directly to the people through markets, business communities and public engagements.