CITN tasks NASS on passage of PIB

By Clifford Ndujihe

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), has urged the National Assembly, which resumed from its two-month vacation, yesterday, to ensure speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), to accelerate development of the oil sector to boost the country revenue.

Making the call, CITN President/Chairman of Council, Chief Mark Anthony Dike, said the PIB had been delayed for too long, a situation he said was hurting the country revenue wise and the oil producing areas in terms of development. “For good or bad, let us pass the bill and thereafter, we can fine-tune it,”he urged.

Dike spoke during a visit to the Lagos corporate head office of Vanguard Newspapers with a team of CITN officials.

Noting that the Institute, by virtue of CITN ACT Cap C10 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, is charged with the duty of encouraging, promoting and co-ordinating research for the advancement of taxation in Nigeria, Dike said the body had been at the vanguard of fashioning investment friendly tax system for the country by contributing towards tax reforms and economic policies of government at all levels in last 30 years.

Stressing the need for the citizenry to pay taxes, he also said the government must ensure judicious use of taxes to improve their welfare through provision of amenities and welfare packages.

Dike said the people of the Nordic countries like Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland, who are being celebrated as the happiest people on earth, pay heavy taxes with income tax taking about 60-80 per cent of annual icome of average tax payer.

“Butthey do not complain because the government is there for them. They provide free healthcare, education, care for the elderly, etc. If the government provides for almost everything, what do you need money for? So, the people are willing to pay,” he said.

Consequently, he said the CITN is propagating good tax behaviour for governments and individuals in Nigeria. “While we encourage people to pay taxes, we also question the government if they are not using it well,” he added.

He continued: “We are the conscience of the society-checking government and the society. People must empower government through their taxes to provide facilities they cannot provide on their own like roads, healthcare, water, pwer, etc. If people pay tax, they expect government to be responsible. If people don’t pay ax, they cannot challenge and old government to accout. So taxation is important in the life of any nation.”

Speakig on the controversies thattrailed debates on the taxation of churches and mosques at the just concluded National Conference, he said the controversies arose because members of the CITN were not represented, hence the confab was not properly guided on the issue.

According him, being non-profit organisations, religious bodies by law are not to be taxed if they get donations and offerings. However, if they invest the donations in profits making venture, the profits should be taxed.

Among other things, Dike suggestd autonomy and professinalism in revenue collection, employment of professionals in the system of tax administration at all levels, raiing a standing House Committee on taxation and resolving the security challenges to boost investments and development in the country.

- Culled fromt: http://www.vanguardngr.com