In a recent move to, among others, enhance the competency of tax profession in Nigeria through an up-to-date tax education, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has launched the Nigerian Academy of Taxation (NAT).
Mark Anthony Dike, president/chairman of Council, CITN, says the vision of the NAT is to be the leading Academy of professional development and research on taxation in Africa and beyond.
He says the inauguration of NAT comes at a time when issues relating to taxation are attracting the attention of government in terms of its revenue generating potential, and behooves on all professionals and the general citizenry alike, to be well educated and informed on the vast issues pertaining to taxes and taxation in Nigeria.
According to Dike, the NAT would raise the professional competency of the tax profession in Nigeria through up-to-date tax education; provide a platform for the analysis of emergent taxation challenges and opportunities in order to regularly upgrade and update the knowledge and practice of taxation in Nigeria.
Also, the Academy has the mandate to carry out research and policy analysis on how to constantly improve taxation and performance of tax professionals; promote taxation stakeholders’ dialogue and networking “aimed at improving CITN’s contribution to fiscal performance of the Nigerian economy.”
The Academy would deliver high standard of professional and Post-Graduate Tax Education for Tax Professionals and other professionals, through: provision of structured tax training that forms the essential building blocks in tax education from foundational to advanced level, and partnering leading local and regional bodies and institutions to deliver high quality tax programmes.
“The Nigerian Academy of Taxation would enhance professional capacity for cross-border tax work: It would provide international tax training; and it would enable tax professionals to be updated on tax developments within Nigeria and beyond.
“The Nigerian Academy of Taxation would offer unique opportunities for the exchange of tax knowledge and views between the government, industry, and academia and within the profession. It would also create opportunities for government officials, local and overseas tax practitioners and academia, to share information on tax issues,” the CITN president says.
The Nigerian Academy of Taxation would be guided and directed by the Governing Council and a Senate of the Nigerian Academy of Taxation, and the minister of finance shall be a chancellor to the Academy.
Iheanyi Nwachukwu
