Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) have encouraged workers, entrepreneurs, and organizations in Akwa Ibom to embrace voluntary payment of tax.

 

The call was made during a roadshow and sensitization on the "imperative of voluntary compliance and tax revenue growth", organized by FIRS and AKIRS in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Tuesday, 21st November.

 

The Coordinator of FIRS in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River States, Dr Cletus Adie, and the Executive Chairman of AKIRS, Mr. Okon Okon, led their members of staff on the road walk which commenced from Udo Udoma Avenue.

Tax education materials were shared during the roadshow.

 

Speaking with newsmen shortly before the commencement of the exercise, Mr. Okon said AKIRS and FIRS are working in synergy to enhance public enlightenment and awareness of relevant taxes collected by the two tax administrators.

"It is our duty as tax administrators to sensitize the tax public on contemporary issues and get our taxpayers well-informed on tax matters so that they can comply without force.

 

"We had to pull resources together so we can have more leverage on enlightening the public. We have done this roadshow for two years now in collaboration with the FIRS. The road walk is only one part of our sensitization campaigns, we hold town hall meetings and carry out tax education using the media."

 

He said the public enlightenment is also intended to remind taxpayers of their responsibility to the government, the need for voluntary compliance, and the implications of tax evasion and avoidance.

 

Okon encouraged taxpayers to promptly remit their taxes, saying that the Akwa Ibom State government has put taxpayers' money to judicious use, pointing to developments in infrastructure, education, security, healthcare, and aviation as products of taxpayers' money.

On his part, Dr Cletus Adie said the federal government is paying great attention to tax revenue, and the public enlightenment among other things aimed to bring new tax reforms to the knowledge of taxpayers.

 

"Crude oil is going, so we are thinking that we should not over-rely on oil because the time comes when oil is no longer there and the time is near. What is sustaining the economy globally now is tax revenue, and that is the thrust for our country. Tax reforms are on, taxpayers need to understand the perspectives so that when we implement, it won't be strange to us anymore."

"Tax administration is run by sensitization and education.

 

We are doing this show to ensure that every taxpayer has a fair knowledge of what we do, and also understands his or her responsibility and duty to government and vice versa."

 

Adie said at the end of the exercise, they hope to bring more taxpayers into the tax net while expecting more compliance from existing taxpayers