The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has reaffirmed the intrinsic link between law and taxation, describing both as inseparable disciplines vital to fiscal justice, sound public policy, and effective economic governance.
According to the body, the programme aimed to integrate law and taxation for stronger fiscal justice, accountability.
While recognising the vital role that legal professionals play in promoting fairness and accountability in tax practice, the institute said integrating their legal background with sound tax knowledge will not only enhance their professional competence but also contribute immensely to national development.
During the opening of the three-day training, Deputy Director, CITN Tax Academy, Yetunde Suleiman, while urging them to uphold the values of integrity and professionalism, said the programme is designed for members of the legal profession who seek to acquire formal competence and professional recognition in the field of taxation, representing the convergence of law and taxation.
President and Chairman of Council, CITN, Innocent Ohagwa, noted that the taxation environment is undergoing a profound transformation, especially with the four landmark legislations assented to by President Bola Tinubu, stating that collectively, the laws represent the most comprehensive tax reform initiatives in Nigeria’s history.
According to him, the laws harmonise the country’s tax statutes, simplify compliance processes, and strengthen institutional accountability.
He urged that tax professionals are now expected to play a more strategic role, not only in understanding the provisions and implications of new laws, but also in providing sound advisory services, ensuring accurate application, and upholding the principles of taxation with the highest standards of technical competence, professionalism, and ethical integrity.
The CITN boss, who was represented by the institute’s Vice President, Simon Kato, noted that it was in this context that the conversion training programme became imperative.
Despite possessing a deep understanding of Nigeria’s legal framework, Ohagwa said that becoming an effective tax professional requires more than a grasp of statutes.
According to him, it demands the ability to interpret the statutes within the context of finance, accounting, economics, and tax code computations.
Giving an overview of the Nigerian tax system, a Deputy Director in the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Oluwakemi Okeowo, said that as legal practitioners, they are uniquely positioned to add value across the tax spectrum, such as tax advisory, dispute resolution, statutory compliance, policy advocacy, and taxpayer education.
On the outlook of the nation’s tax system, she said it is geared towards leveraging technology and modernising frameworks.
Highlighting some of the key trends, Okeowo mentioned digital economy taxation, automation, data analytics, fiscal federalism, and a focus on non-oil revenue.
