The chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Zacch Adedeji, has said that improved tax revenue through greater efficiency in tax administration would benefit both the countries in the West African sub-region as well as their citizens.
Adedeji made the declaration at the opening of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) Country Correspondents’ conference held in Abuja.
Media aide to the FIRS chairman, Mr Dare Adekanmbi, said in a statement that Adedeji restated the agency’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote tax policy development and build the capacity of tax administrators in the sub-region.
He stressed that a well-articulated tax policy would promote economic development through effective revenue mobilisation domestically.
Historically, Adedeji said “Nigeria has always been at the forefront of promoting international tax cooperation and has been a key contributor to the development of WATAF, providing technical assistance and capacity-building programs to member countries.”
He added: “Our country has also been at the forefront of promoting regional cooperation in tax administration, recognising the importance of collaboration in addressing common challenges.
“Nigeria remains committed to supporting initiatives that drive tax policy development and capacity-building, not just in Nigeria but across the West African region. We recognise the importance of domestic resource mobilisation in achieving economic development and growth.”
He charged the participants to actively engage in discussions, leverage the gathering to build stronger professional networks, and commit to implementing the knowledge gained for the betterment of our tax systems.
Adedeji commended WATAF for providing a platform that fosters collaboration and build capacities of members across the West African sub-region.
Beside Nigeria, participants for the conference were from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Benin, and Burkina Faso.
