International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), in collaboration with International Budget Partnership, has selected 12 journalists from four states to participate in its “Tax Justice and Equity Project”.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by ICIR Programmes Officer, Alfred Akerele. He stated that the Project is targeted at building the capacity and provide financial support for the selected fellows to undertake critical business investigations on data-driven reports on Tax Equity and Multiplicity of Taxation in the informal sector in Nigeria.

And it also aimed at enlightening Nigerians and to stimulate discussions around tax issues, using investigative journalism as a tool in a manner that would promote tax equity and justice

The selected journalists are from Kano, Taraba, Cross River and Lagos states and their media organisations are BizPoint (Online Business Newspaper), Taraba State; Broadcasting Service, (TSBS) Jalingo; The Guardian Newspaper; The ICIR; Rock FM Jalingo; Nigerian Tribune Newspaper; TheCable Newspaper Limited; Prime TV; Premier Radio; HIT95.9FM; Freelance journalist and  BusinessDay.

The statement reads: “The ICIR, which is an independent, non–profit media organisation, aimed to promote good governance in Nigeria through robust investigative, data-driven reporting. Our goal is to build a culture of watchdog reporting for the media in Nigeria.

In the last five years, the Centre has worked to build the capacity for journalists to undertake investigative, data-driven reporting, thus strengthening accountability and engendering effective service delivery for the welfare of the citizens, particularly at the sub-regional level.