The 8th District Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Victoria Okokon, FCTI has sought collaborations with the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) on modality on how to foster taxpayers rights and obligations.
She made her intent known when she led a delegation of CITN Executives on a courtesy visit to PHCCIMA President, Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, NPOM JP, FNIM, DSSRS at the Chamber Secretariat in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, saying that it was in line with the objectives of the institute aimed at harnessing the numerous opportunities that abound in collaborating with the Chamber which includes advocating for tax education and regulations that will promote high standard of tax practice among members through continuous professional development and adherence to ethical standards as well as strive to enhance efficiency in tax administration.
While acknowledging the current challenges and developments in the taxation landscape, including recent changes to tax laws, the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, multiple taxation particularly at the local government level, she advocated for a sustainable Tax Education System.
The CITN 8th Chairman further prayed for her organization to be recognized as a permanent member of the Financial Services trade group of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture as a way of strengthening the partnership and collaborative efforts with the Chamber, hence she invited the Chamber President and his Team to participate in their upcoming Annual Tax Conference.
Responding, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, NPOM, JP FNIM, DSSRS who welcomed his visitors decried the high level of touting among tax collection agencies positing that the present administration in the state have no hands in the multiple taxation issues and urged the public to speak out.
The Chamber President maintained that it is the duty of the State Internal Revenue Service to establish Tax Education and Enlightenment programs through the mass media and other platforms to save the ordinary people from the hands of touts who have infuriated the business environment, adding that the most worrisome is that people are in hurry to figure fight for their rights, hence they should apply resistance and seek clarifications on the proper identity of those who act in disguise as tax agents.
The PHCCIMA President who is the Chief Executive Officer of Vintage Farms and Products Ltd promised that the Chamber will be willing to collaborate with the institute, and assured them that their presentation will be incorporated in the memo the Chamber will be sending to the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS on the matter as well as inviting them during the Chamber monthly general forum to make presentations with the view of educating the Chamber members on tax matters just as he promised that the Chamber will honour their invitation to the annual conference.
The high points of the visit were the decoration of PHCCIMA President as the Chief Friend of CITN, Port Harcourt District Society and the presentation of souvenirs to the visitors by the President. The courtesy visit which was well attended by members of the CITN also had the Chamber Treasurer and Chairman Finance & Budget Committee, Surveyor Emmanuel Ogbonda, FCAI, the Chairman of Financial Services trade group and Elected Council Member, Amb. Clement Akanibo, Vice Chairman of the Financial Services trade group, Mr. Fredrick G. N. Okoye, the Director General, Mr. Erasmus Chukunda, the Deputy Director General, Mr. Philip Obiandu, the Accountant, Mrs. Umazuke D. Josiah and the Media Officer, Mr.Joseph Asomeji present as shown above.
