M

The Executive Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service AKIRS, Sir Okon Okon has commended the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) for the consistent and intensive training on taxation especially on contemporary issues like taxing the digital economy and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. He called on tax administrators, professionals, and Practitioners to take advantage of various capacity-building and skill-set retooling seminars organized by the Institute to reposition themselves for better services to taxpayers.

Sir Okon, made this known on Thursday 9th November, 2023, during the Mandatory Professional Training Programme (MPTP) organized by The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Uyo on the topics, 'Dispute Resolution Mechanism in Tax Administration' and Taxation of the  Nigerian Digital Economy'.

Okon, who is a fellow and Council member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), maintained that the training has been designed for sharing knowledge to build the capacity of tax professionals as well as make them contribute positively towards the development of the state.

The AKIRS boss stated that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno-led administration is poised to create a more friendly tax environment to curb multiple taxation with reforms and innovations that will encourage the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises in the state.

He further pointed out that, tax-for-service projects for the informal sector will be introduced by AKIRS next fiscal year in response to voluntary compliance, adding that other top-notch innovations to digititalize tax administration will also be rolled out soon as part of ongoing reforms in tax administration to give taxpayers quality service delivery.

"From next fiscal year, we will embark on tax-for-service projects. We will introduce some projects and initiatives that can be undertaken by AKIRS in line with the ARISE Agenda of the State Government to further engender voluntary tax compliance in the informal sector, especially for micro and nano businesses. On issues of capacity development and professionalism, he noted that any tax authority that has not developed its people and enhanced their capacity is not ready for the ever-changing economic environment," he noted.

He also stated that the Service will increase the intensity of tax education and sensitization campaigns in the 
order to keep the tax public well informed on tax matters. 

Speaking on the activities of non-state actors who parade themselves as taxmen and defraud unsuspecting members of the public, Mr. Okon condemned their activities in their entirety. He committed to working with law enforcement agencies to deal with the menace.

He called on tax professionals to operate within the ethics of tax practice and purge themselves of all forms of relationships with touts, which he noted could be inimical to tax development.

"We have to deal with the issue of non-state actors who constitute a nuisance to the public. They extort the public while pretending to be legitimate tax collectors. This has to be seriously checked."