CITN yearly tax conference participants hope for better outcome

Participants at the yearly tax conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) are hopeful of the event being much impactful.

A cross section of the partakers, who spoke with The Guardian shortly after their registration, yesterday, in Abuja, said they were at the conference to learn new things that would enhance them as tax professionals.

The 24th in the series, the organisers say the programme focuses on how to fully digitise the Nigerian tax system, following the global disruptions occasioned by globalisation and the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the event themed, “Global Disruption, Taxation and Digitalisation: Implications for Socio-Economic Development,” Felix Ali of Ekiti Education Trust Fund said as professionals, tax practitioners needed to constantly update themselves with latest developments in global practice.

To another participant, who simply identified herself as Alhaja Usman, “the conference promises to be a unique one, and I am here to see what makes it different from others. I am also here to learn and network. I want to get to know more people.”

A chartered accountant and tax professional, Taofeek Olatubosun, stated: “This is an opportunity for tax professionals to learn new things about their profession. I am looking forward to learning how to use technology to solve tax issues. You know the world is going ICT now, we have to move with the time. I am also expecting to know how we can create a better tax system in Nigeria. Nigeria is a big country and our major challenge now is revenue generation and the greater source of that revenue comes from tax. Unfortunately, many Nigerians, who should be paying taxes, are not within the tax net.”

I hope that this conference will go a long way to address that gap so that we can know what we need to do to change the situation.”

Also speaking, another chartered accountant, Mark Udah, who said he is not a member of CITN, but decided to attend the conference, noted that the issue of tax was something that concerned everyone.

He said: “I am here basically to know what is happening in the tax space. The areas I expect this conference to touch include how to block revenue leakages in the hands of tax officials.

“Since the internally generated revenue is almost in the hands of state governments, it is pertinent that we get it right, especially in blocking the loopholes to make sure that revenue officers do not tamper with the money collected.”

Udah commended the CITN leadership for coming up with what it considered an apt theme.

The event ends on Friday.