The Chairman, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Ikeja District, Mr. Agbeluyi Olushola, has expressed the need for state governments to enlighten the public on the essence of taxation and to ensure that payment of taxes is enforced in order to boost revenue generation.
Olushola said this when he led a delegation of the institute to the head office of the Punch Nigeria Limited at Magboro, Ogun State on Wednesday.
“Enforcement and publicity are important to develop taxation. This is what Lagos has been doing to improve its revenue generation, which many states are not doing,” he said.
According to him, without publicity, people will not comply with taxation rules, especially if they are not aware of what is being done.
He also said there was the need to put in place an enforcement structure in order to ensure payment by those, who would ordinarily not pay their taxes, even when they had the money and resources.
The tax professional stressed the need for a data collection system.
According to him, Lagos State has been able to improve on its data collection, which has improved its information on tax payers in the region.
He emphasised the need for citizens to pay their taxes as and when due, to provide resources necessary for the provision of social amenities.
“When they pay their taxes”, he added, “they will be able to demand for proper accountability from the government on what is being done with their taxes.”
The professional said the role of the CITN was not to collect taxes, but an institute that engages in setting the skills required for manpower development to become a tax professional.