The President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Innocent Ohagwa, has described the new tax reforms by the Tinubu administration as a bold step to reduce states’ dependence on federal allocations.
Speaking at a tax conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Ohagwa said the reforms, including the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), will empower sub-nationals to boost their internally generated revenue through improved tax systems and digital automation.
He said, “The focus is not on paying tax but on improving citizens’ living standards and simplifying tax compliance. When compliance is easy, revenue increases, and the country develops faster.”
Ohagwa urged states to leverage the reforms to expand their tax base and attract voluntary compliance, rather than overtaxing citizens. Also speaking, CITN Port Harcourt District Chairman, Victoria Okokon, said the new laws were designed to strengthen, not weaken, state finances.
Rivers State Internal Revenue Service Chairman, Israel Egbunefu, called for diversification beyond Pay-As-You-Earn, stressing the need to tap into the digital and blue economies to sustain growth and reduce fiscal dependence.
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