The Executive Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, (AKIRS), Mr. Okon Okon, has charged the Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT), Uyo and District, to create more public awareness about taxation and the need to pay tax, especially among entrepreneurs and employees working in the informal sector of the state.

Mr. Okon gave the charge on Tuesday, 19th March when the executive of SWIT paid him a courtesy call at Revenue House, Uyo.

SWIT is the women's arm of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) working to promote active participation of women in the tax profession.

He said AKIRS will welcome collaboration and participation by SWIT in ongoing tax enlightenment and awareness campaigns aimed at inculcating tax habits and voluntary compliance in taxpayers in the state.

While commending the outgoing executive of SWIT for their laudable activities and outreach programs especially the "Catch Them Young", an advocacy and sensitization strategy designed to create awareness on taxation in secondary schools, the Executive Chairman urged the incoming exco to raise the bar on such campaigns.

"Let it be on record that the pioneer executive of SWIT has done commendably well, especially in tax advocacy. Through your engagements, more people have become aware of tax matters in Akwa Ibom State. Most time you go to the radio and talk about tax.

"SWIT is a very important and crucial organ of CITN. Continue to improve, and grow in terms of influence, number, and productivity. Your first two years have been very rewarding to us as an agency and I believe that the incoming executive will up the anté and attain higher heights in tax advocacy. I charge you to collaborate with us to raise more awareness on tax in the best interest of the public".

Okon urged the incoming exco to also accommodate SWIT members who are not staff of AKIRS in their campaigns for wider coverage and impact.

The State Coordinator of SWIT Uyo and District, Mrs. Idorenyin William, commended the Executive Chairman AKIRS for his support to SWIT, saying the Society embarked on tax advocacy campaigns, road walk on tax sensitisation, seminars, leadership training for members, the "Catch Them Young" under her leadership.

She appealed to Board of AKIRS to extend similar support to the incoming exco when it is inaugurated later this year.

SWIT presented a memento to Sir Okon Okon in recognition of his support to the Society.