The administration of President Bola Tinubu is working to reduce taxes in the country from the current 62 to a maximum of nine, in his determination to create a more business-friendly environment in the country.
The Chairman the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this at the 2023 Annual Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, in Abuja, yesterday.
He said that the step has become imperative as the current multiplicity of taxes has made Tax administration cumbersome and ineffective.
The Chairman compared Nigeria’s Tax revenue of N15. 194 trillion in 2022 to the equivalent of N78 trillion revenue of South Africa, with only 10 taxes in the same period.
To achieve the tax reduction goal, Mr. Oyedele said that administrative intervention and constitutional amendment would be required.
In her remarks, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, said that accountants played very critical roles and unique responsibilities in driving the nation’s development.
According to her, “Transparency builds trust”, and such accountants must ensure accountability in both public and private sectors.
The AGF tasked accountants to also address the l unique needs of marginalised communities with a view to ensuring inclusiveness of the various segments of the nations.
Disparities threat to nation- ICAN
President of ICAN, Dr. Innocent Okwuosa, warned against growing disparities across socio-economic lines in the country.
“We have chosen not to be silent on the disparities which we consider as a threat to our nation,” adding that the wide gap between the rich and the poor was now a threat to the nation.
His words, “We have been consistent in demanding accountability from the three tiers of government.
“It is evident that addressing socio-economic disparities has become a moral imperative for nations, especially given the widening inequalities across various I dictators.
“To rectify this situation, key measures should include bolstering fiscal management, rationalising preferential trade restrictions and Tax exemptions.
“Such decisive actions would notably enhance the business environment, attract foreign direct investments and reduce inflation,”
Dr. Okwuosa added that there was a need for an inclusive development Blueprint for Nigeria.
In a message, President Bola Tinubu promised to take steps that would ensure economic development for all Nigerians.
He said in the message, delivered by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, that he was determined to create an “inclusive, equitable and prosperous Nigeria,” adding, “Inclusivity is a moral responsibility.”
The president urged the accountants to engage in robust discussions on transformative policies that would enhance inclusive development and the administration was committed to learning from ICAN expertise to work towards a better future for all Nigerians.
Build competencies- IFAC President
In her remarks, the President of the International Federation of Accountants Ms. Asmaa Resmouki, said that accountants must develop their competencies in order to achieve sustainability and transparency.
She said that core competencies must apply to business acumen and ethical behaviour.
The IFAC President said that customers should understand business models and should take responsibility for entities’ responses to risks.