AKIRS Takes Sensitization to ICSAN, Allied Professional Bodies

The Executive Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), Sir Okon Okon, has once again assured Nigerians and Akwa Ibom people in particular that the New Tax Reforms Acts was deliberately designed to relieve Nigerians from many tax burdens and give them more space to breathe.

Sir Okon re-echoed these assurances recently when he delivered a paper during the 6th Summit of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), held at Ceedapec Hotel, Uyo, Thursday, 29th November, 2025. The Summit had the cardinal theme: "Redeeming Governance in a Dynamic Regulatory Era: Aligning Policy, Compliance, and Corporate Strategy." The Summit was an assembly of professionals from allied disciplines under the aegis of ICSAN.

Delivering a paper on the sub-theme: "The Tax Regime: Navigating the Transition from FIRS to NRS - Implications for Governance, Compliance, and Corporate Strategy", Sir Okon critically explored the nuances and expectations of the New Tax Reforms Acts. Areas covered in a bullet point presentation included historical background and precedents to the new Reforms; components of the new Acts; and synopsis of implications and impact of the new Acts on individuals, corporate of organizations. The paper also listed 50 cetegory of items and demography that are exempted from the Acts, especially low income earners and some SMEs.

"The Reforms should be a cause joy and positive expectations rather than of fears. But I can understand why the fears. For instance, when the year 2000 was around the corner, the fear had been that Y2K, as the millennium was popularity called, will come with a big bang.I can recall that many persons kept vigil on December 31st, 1999 for fear of what the next year was to bring. But here we are today.", the AKIRS Boss said.

The ICSAN engagement was very strategic in securing partnership with ICSAN to push the mm message.Those in attendance described the paper as eye-opening and informative.

Besides, in the past months, AKIRS has embarked on series of training for its staffers; a cutting-edge ICT and digital office has been developed at the AKIRS' Corporate Headquarters, Uyo to keep pace with the momentum of activities at the national level. More so, comprehensive sensitization packages in the media is underway, more shall be done.

The second sub-theme's paper, "Artificial intelligence: Catalyst for Invention or Threat to Living and Development" was presented by Associate Professor Idorenyin Eyo of the Faculty of Law, University of Uyo. It underscored the fact that while AI is of immense good to man, it cannot completely replace human intelligence, hence must be used with caution.

The Host of the event was the President and Chairman of Council, ICSAN, Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, FCIS, while the Host was the President of the Akwa Ibom Chapter of ICSAN, His Lordship, Mrs. Theresa Nkiru Ntong, FCIS; and Hon. Umana Umana, FCTI, served as Chairman of Summit. Others also present were Vice President of ICSAN, Francis Olawale, FCIS; Honorary Treasurer, Onyekachi Ekundayo, FCIS; Mr. Babatunde Oladapo Okumiye, ACIS; Honourable Justice Ita Mbaba, Justice of the Appeal Court; Dr. Linda Victor Akpan, FCIA, FCTI; Mr. Tony Onuka; Ms Manti Umoh.

The climax of the event was an Award and Dinner Night, where Okon Okon was honoured with an Excellence Award in Corporate Governance.