The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called on the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, CITN to collaborate with Akwa Ibom State University, AKSU, to introduce Taxation as a degree programme in the institution.

The Governor also called on CITN to provide useful technical support to Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) to strengthen its operations and further enhance its productivity.

Pastor Eno made the call on Thursday 22nd February, 2024, while declaring open the 2024 Council Retreat and 179th Meeting of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria held in Uyo.

“The institute should collaborate with Akwa Ibom State University to introduce Taxation as a degree programme as you have done with other universities, and it is my honour to declare this retreat open”.

“I would like the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, CITN to collaborate with Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service to further strengthen its collecting taxes operations, " the Governor said.

The theme of the retreat was ‘'Making CITN the Professional Institute of Choice: Strategies and Options".

He acknowledged the profound role of taxation in the survival of the government and urged CITN to provide recommended strategies to surmount the current economic challenges facing the country to build a sustainable economy that will create wealth for the people.

The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob, said his administration is creating a tax-friendly environment to promote business growth and weed out cases of multiple taxation.

"Akwa Ibom State is among the comity of states with a tax regime that is people and investment-friendly. Our administration has adopted a tax model primarily hinges on widening the tax net through intensive and extensive sensitization campaigns.

"Last year, my administration set up a committee to review and harmonize the state taxes. The aims were to enhance ease of doing business in the State by eliminating multiple taxation and improve our internally generated revenue (IGR) without increasing the tax burden on our taxpayers, especially the nano, micro, and small businesses. We believe that with a friendly but robust and technology-driven tax environment, the state will pool a reasonable amount of IGR to support the full implementation of our 5-point economic blueprint tagged the ARISE Agenda", Eno said.

The Governor pledged the state government's continued support to CITN and urged the Institute to speed up the development of the South-South tax academy in Uyo.

The state government handed over a parcel of land in the central business district Uyo to CITN for the building of its proposed tax academy.

The President CITN, Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi, thanked Akwa Ibom state government for donating land to the Institute.

Mr. Agbeluyi, commended the Executive Chairman, of AKIRS, Mr. Okon Okon for collaborating with CITN to host the retreat, describing him as a pride of Akwa Ibom and urged participants to take advantage of the retreat by adding knowledge to the dynamic nature of taxation.

Agbeluyi, further noted that CITN is saddled with the responsibility of bringing high-net-worth Nigerians into the tax net, generating adequate data, and abolishing multiple taxation, which he assured will soon be addressed.

Presenting a message of goodwill, the Executive Secretary, the Joint Tax Board JTB, Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, commended CITN for promoting tax professionals and tax practice in Nigeria, and also shaping tax laws and policies.

In his welcome address, the Executive Chairman, AKIRS, Mr. Okon Okon, and the host of the retreat thanked the 16th President of CITN for choosing Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for the retreat, describing the theme of the event as apt considering the increasing economic and social challenges the country is facing and the need to urgently increase tax revenue most professionally and efficiently.

Mr. Okon, however, expressed optimism that the retreat will avail participants of rewarding sessions to acquire further knowledge and valuable strategies that will stand them out and make CITN a professional institute of choice.

Also in his goodwill message, the Chairman, of Ibom Air, Mr. Imo-Abasi Jacob, appealed to CITN to adopt an innovative taxation formula for the aviation industry to thrive which he noted has been hostile due to the economic challenges in the country.

The high point of the event was the presentation of a plaque to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, in recognition and appreciation of his role and support to CITN. Also a plaque was presented to Executive Chairman, AKIRS, Mr. Okon Okon, in recognition and support of his role as host of 2024 CITN Retreat.