The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in collaboration with Afropolitan Media Limited has trained journalists on Nigeria tax ecosystem and the role media plays in encouraging payment of tax and judicious utilization.
The Chief Executive Officer, Afropolitan Media, Hajiya Aisha Umar-Haliru,said the one day sensitization workshop on Nigerian tax administration for media practitioners, was to understand the rudiments and importance of taxation.
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She said the workshop was aimed to bring participants up to date on current challenges faced by tax authorities like the FIRS, as well as the reforms carried out by the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Muhammad Nami, to tackle these challenges.
“Media are a major catalyst, in reporting challenges from the position of deeper knowledge of the tax economy, in tandem with tax authorities like the FIRS and other tax bodies, at state and local government level for a robust education of the taxpayer in Nigeria.
“FIRS appreciate the support you have been giving to the Service and urge you all to deploy the fresh insights you would gain from this workshop to sensitize Nigerians better on their legal and patriotic duty to pay their tax promptly and as at when due.”
On his part, the resource person, Dr Zaharadeen Salisu Maigoshi, a lecturer with the Department of Accounting Bayero University Kano, while presenting a paper titled “General Overview of the Nigerian Tax Ecosystem, noted that tax differs from fees, licenses and fines and is classified into incidence, tax rate and tax base.
“Nigerian tax ecosystem stands on a tripod that consists of tax policy, tax laws and tax administration. While equity and fairness, simplicity, certainty and clarity stands to be a great contributing factor, low cost of administration and sustainability are the guiding principles of Nigeria’s tax system.
“The national tax policy provides the fundamental guidelines for the orderly development of the Nigerian tax system,” Maigoshi said.
He urged the media to develop a framework in their reportage to motivate and encourage the general public to pay taxes as it will turn out to benefit the country.
