Let Citizens Feel Impacts Of Tax, FIRS Advises Governors

Posted by Tolulope Ogugua Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Thursday, September 30th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has urged government at all levels to ensure that citizens feel the impact of collected tax in their areas of responsibility.

The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mohammad Nami, gave the advice at 7th IGR Learning Event organised by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja.

He stated that taxation remained the most veritable tool in addressing the imbalance between the “haves” and the “have nots” in the society.

He said that the use of taxation was important in balancing social-economic standing of citizens.

The executive chairman said that beyond that, tax was the contribution members of the society make for their leaders to provide them with social amenities in appropriate quantity and quality.

“The citizens should not just hear budget figures but must, within their immediate living quarters, feel, see and experience effects of tax revenue.

“Government at various tiers must, in view of the constitutional provisions, imbibe the culture of value-for-money or, put in proper perspective, vaiue-for tax-money,” he said.

According to him, tax is the price paid in anticipation of decent living conditions, adding that tax-compliant citizens can legitimately expect their leaders to provide them with necessary amenities for a ‘good life.

Nami said that section 16 (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that “the state shall within the context of the ideals and objectives for which provisions are made in this Constitution, control the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.”