Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his counterparts from Sokoto and Borno States, Babagana Zulum and Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, respectively, have emphasised the need to make the country’s tax system more transparent and accountable to Nigerians to boost confidence and voluntary compliance.

The governors made the call at the ongoing 26th Annual Tax Conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Abuja, with the theme, “Sustainable Tax Culture and Economic Roadmap for Nation Building”.

Speaking at the conference on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue, Abdul-Kabir Opeyemi Ogungbo, said the theme of the conference was apt and timely given that Nigeria, like many other nations, is currently facing economic challenges.

While underscoring the crucial role of a transparent and efficient tax administration in fostering confidence and voluntary compliance among taxpayers, he stressed the necessity for citizens to witness tangible outcomes from their tax contributions, highlighting the pivotal role taxes play in fueling public services and infrastructural development.

Sanwo-Olu stressed the shift in mindset needed, urging taxpayers to view tax payments not as a burden but as an investment in a better future for Nigeria.

He said building a strong and sustainable future through a robust tax system that fosters economic growth and development had become inevitable.

On his part, Governor Zulum criticised inefficiencies and corruption in the current tax administration system.

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Zulum, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Kadafur, highlighted the shortcomings of the current tax system, including tax evasion, avoidance, and lack of transparency.

He called for critical reforms to address these issues, including tackling corruption in both the oil sector and governance system.

The governor also criticised the political protection of tax evaders and emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in tax administration.

While calling for critical reforms, he lamented the manipulation and connivance of multinationals with tax administration to short-change the system, adding that this represented one of the hallmarks of corruption in both the oil and governance system.

In his remarks, Governor Sokoto said the conference will greatly assist in exploring innovative ways of improving revenue generation in the country.

Also speaking at the event, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who declared the conference open, stressed the need to prioritise growing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) over relying solely on borrowing to fund national and sub-national budgets.

Amosun said borrowing to fund the budgets was not the way to go amid the current national economic challenge when “our nation and its constituent states and local governments are going through very difficult times and finding it hard to provide for its teeming populace, acceptable standards of living, employment with the growing population of youths, infrastructure and basic amenities that will make life more meaningful.”

Others who spoke at the event were Auditor-General for the Federation (AuGF) Shaakaa Chira. and CITN President and Chairman Samuel Agbeluyi, among others.

The Star