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The Executive Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, AKIRS, Mr. Okon Okon has solicited the support of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on tax compliance among individuals, Corporate bodies, groups and organisations for enhancement of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the State.

Mr. Okon, made a solicitation, Tuesday,30th January, 2024 when he played host to the Nigerian Bar Association NBA, Uyo Branch, who were on a courtesy visit to him at the Revenue House, Uyo.

Mr Okon who projected taxation as law explained that the law plays a pivotal role in the enforcement of taxation and canvassed the support and cooperation of the NBA in that regard.

He stated that the State Internal Revenue Service has set machinery in motion to improve tax compliance by educating its members about tax obligations as well as increase public awareness of tax issues to the public to minimize tax disputes and further increase tax revenue for the State Government.

“We are supposed to be partners for obvious reasons, taxation is law, you can define taxation as law and you will be right, and so if taxation is law who then should be our partners? Lawyers. 

"There is a need for cooperation, collaboration, and support to the government of Akwa Ibom State to build an Internal Revenue Service leading to improvement in the IGR of the State which is what we all yearn for to keep the wheel of progress and development of the state going".

Okon who congratulated the new executive of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Uyo branch led by the Chairman, Barr. Augustine Udoh, urged lawyers with an interest in Commercial and Tax Law to enroll with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, CITN, where they can practice as tax experts, adding that taxation is the new way to go and a sustainable source of revenue.

Earlier, the Chairman Nigerian Bar Association, Uyo branch, Barr. Augustine Udoh, presented the new executive members of the Association, saying that his leadership is poised to offer professional partnership and support services to encourage the initiatives of AKIRS to boost revenue in the State.

Barr. Udoh said that part of his initiative is to sensitize its members on the need for compliance with AKIRS laws and policies that have to do with revenue generation and solicited ease of payment within the profession to enable lawyers to file their papers.

“As a professional body, we have clients who we owe a duty to advise, who we owe a duty to sensitize rather than going to court because It is better to have a reduction in litigation cost and have a rather increase in tax compliance," he reasoned.