The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Tunde Fowler, has stressed the need for the public to be properly informed about the importance of tax payment and the benefits of voluntary compliance.
The FIRS boss spoke aginst the background of assessed low-level tax payment by Nigerians.
Speaking at the RCCG 2016 Economic Summit, with the theme: “Thriving in a period of economic uncertainty,” Fowler who was represented by his Special Assistant, Femi Edgal, said the importance of tax payment cannot be over-emphasized, adding that citizens need to cooperate and support the government by paying their taxes regularly as their own part of the social contract with the government.
He noted that willful compliance will allow the channeling of the much needed human resources into areas of growth and development.
According to him, cooperation is one of the important frameworks that will define the future of tax administration in Nigeria. Most people recognise that taxes are paid for public services, but only few are keen to stand up for it.
“Good services cannot happen without taxation, such as, it is important that you pay tax. It is a civil responsibility,” he said.
Noting that tax is the price we pay for a civilized economy, he said therefore, that tax is the key to transformation and urged Nigerians to do the right thing by paying their taxes as at when due to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Folarin Ogunsanwo, said that it has therefore become expedient to address the emerging tax compliance issues.
According to him, “our collaboration with FIRS and the immigration service has led to an exchange in information that would ensure an expansion in our tax net to capture every individual required by law to remit their taxes to the State Government coffers.”
Meanwhile, Ogunsanwo maintained that under his leadership, LIRS would deliver on its promises on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as well as ensure prompt remittance of all taxes to the coffers of the government in order to cushion the effects of shortfall in Federal allocation due to the global crash in crude oil price.
The programme, organised by Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was aimed at boosting the socio-economic and spiritual development of its members and support for its host community.
