As part of effort to educate the public on the role of tax in Nation Building, the Federal Inland Revenue Service embarked on Education and Enlightenment of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) on tax matters so as to sustain the result oriented driven public education that would encourage more Nigerians to become taxpayers.
The event which took place earlier today in Abuja.
Mr. Johnnes O. Wojuola the Special Assistant (Media) to the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service in his welcome address said it has become necessary for Nigeria to think outside the box, because the revenue generated from Crude oil is no longer sustainable for Nation Building. “As an agency our door is always open to greater cooperation with stakeholders, Civil Society Organization and other critical professionals and practitioners in widening the campaign to encourage Nigerians on the need to pay tax.” He further said that the objective of this enlightenment campaign should be to encourage Nigerians to see themselves as partners in national development and progress with the government by highlighting what government does with revenue it gained through tax collection to present and prospective taxpayers in the country in order to bring more Nigerians into the tax net.
The training was facilitated by Juzor and Company Limited in conjunction with the FIRS.
Speaking during the Paper Presentation, Mr. Mathew Osanekwu said “Taxation provided the needed revenue to fund developmental projects in the country and all hands must be on deck to achieve it. Ad a critical Stakeholders and Citizens, the Government count on you (CSOs, NGO) to help sensitize other citizens on the need to perform this very important civil duty by ensuring voluntary compliance to tax obligation,” he said.
Osanekwu also highlight the role of Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations in this collaboration.
Speaking in the same vein, Soibifaa Dokubo Esq. who delivered a paper on “The Role of Tax In Nation Building emphasized that tax is not a donation or a voluntary payment rather it is a legal enforcement by law, items 59 of the Exclusive Legislative list vests the federal government with powers on the “taxation of incomes, profits, and capital gains. She also highlights the importance of tax payment. “The importance of tax rest on one word “sustainability” of human welfare and the State.
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