As part of effort to deepen knowledge in taxation and tax administration which is targeted at improving tax practice and collection in the country, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has concluded plans to award certificate and diploma in taxation.
Consequently, CITN is establishing tax academy in six geo-political zones of the country where courses in taxation and tax practice will be offered for existing and prospective tax administrators and practitioners with a view to partnering Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and all the 36 State Internal Revenue Services through Joint Tax Board.
Speaking at the CITN Mandatory Professional Training Programme (MPTP) held in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, Cyril Ikemefuna, President of CITN, declared that the steps were taken to further deepen tax education and strengthen certificates being issued to tax professionals and practitioners in the field of taxation and tax practice.
This, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) will be doing in addition to debate on taxation which it organises at the district level for secondary school students across the country and general quiz competition on tax practice and administration for undergraduate students of higher institutions as part of catch-them-young programme of the Council.
He said, “We are coming up with tax academy that gives better value to our certificates and tax practice as well as tax administration which we intend to do in partnership with relevant agencies. We want to make sure that we improve tax administration and practice in Nigeria.”
Shedding more light on the planned tax academy, Godwin Oyedokun, a PhD holder and Chairman of CITN Tax Academy, said, “Incidentally, I was the Director in the Department where that Tax Academy emanated from. I was the sole Secretary in charge that gave birth to it on behalf of the then President.
“Our mind is that we need to educate our members and those other citizens of Nigeria that may wish to learn more about taxation. Most of the members of Boards of States Internal Revenue Service and Federal Inland Revenue Service are not core tax people, people that actually did not study taxation and find themselves working around.
“It may not be out of sense for them to know about taxation. We have some judges that supposed to adjudicate on matters of taxation. Yes, they will say they studied tax law generally, but what about law that came after they had graduated?
“So, you have avenue which you can actually come for specific line of taxation and come and learn it in a deep manner. So, we hope to operate the Academy in six geo-political zones of Nigeria whereby you can just walk in and take a certificate course, may be Indirect tax for instance or general tax.
“We now have collaboration with universities because people will register for our programmes through universities, universities will train people and we will support them with technical persons and expertise”, he concluded.
RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta
