By Sani Idris
An NGO, Tax Justice Network (TJN), has sought partnership and synergy with the Kaduna State Fiscal Responsibility Commission on possible ways to improve tax administration in the state.
The TJN is an association of individuals and groups interested in engaging issues related to tax justice and promoting a fair, just, equitable and progressive tax regime in Nigeria.
It has a spread across the sub-national level.
Coordinator of the network in Kaduna, Simeon Olatunde, at an advocacy visit to the Kaduna State Fiscal Responsibility Comission, said they wanted a partnership to ensure that tax payers money was used in the appropriate ways by MDAs.
He added that the network was poised for partnership to reduce multiple taxation, corporate tax dodging and other harmful tax practices in Kaduna
State.
Olatunde explained that the campaign objectives and strategy in ensuring sound tax administration was through increase in public awareness around the issues of taxation and domestic resource mobilisation for sustainable financing development.
Speaking further, he said part of their achievements was the support rendered to the state to cover research gaps on capacity building and trained/certified internal revenue service staff on grievance and redress mechanism.
He added that the TJN gave technical support to Lere LGA, which led to the rebuilding of Lere Grains Market in
Saminaka, published and distributed Hausa tax handbook across the state, among others.
Olatunde, therefore, noted that partnership with the commission, which ensured fiscal discipline, would help them deliver their mandates effectively
The coordinator, therefore, said having a dedicated desk officer by the network who would facilitate communication with the commission from time to time, would easure achievements of all their mandates.
He said the vision was to ensure a human society with a fair, progressive, and transparent tax system.
He said this was the basis for promoting sustainanable development, eradicating poverty and creating equity for all Nigerians.
Responding, Chairman of the Commission, Mr Abdullahi Mohammed, welcomed the idea for partnership with the network.
Mohammed, represented by Mr Magaji Hunkuyi, a Permanent Commissioner in the comission, said the partnership, if cemented, would go a long way to enhancie capacity of their staff and the commission’s mandates.
He lamented that some of their challenges was by MDAs who always felt witch hunted when the commission was discharging its mandate.
He assured the network of the commission’s readiness and willingness to partner in possible ways for the enhancement of outcomes of tax moneys.(NAN)
