The Chairman, Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr Tunde Fowler, has posited that Nigeria has outgrown total dependence on oil sector and international donors to develop her land.
Fowler disclosed this at the South east Zone Regional flag-off ceremony for the new National TIN Registration System held at Awka, the Anambra state capital on Thursday.
The event attended by representatives of five South east governors also witnessed official inauguration of stamp duties office and revenue stamps by Anambra state government.
The JTB boss, who announced that the country had moved to non-oil sector and tax payment to generate fund for development, urged South-east residents to always pay their tax to help the governments serve them better.
According to him, the official flag-off of the new National Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Registration System in the South-East Geopolitical Zone was third to be launched in the country and in line with official launch of the new national TIN registration system and consolidated taxpayers’ database carried out by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo on July 1, 2019.
He said the new system improves on the efficiency and output of the entire tax administration process, provides enhanced convenience to the taxpayers as the tax administrators, guarantees that each taxpayer’s details were readily available to them at their fingertips at all times and anywhere, as well as leads to increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for all tiers of government.
He explained that Anambra was chosen to host the event in recognition of “the positive strides the state is making towards enhancing its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) potential over the years” and the huge entrepreneurial and commercial potential of the state.
Flagging off the event, Governor Willie Obiano, represented by his Deputy, Nkem Okeke, said the state government had created enabling environment for industries and businesses to thrive, as well as to pay their taxes without hitches.
In a remark, the Chairman, Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (ASiRS), Mr David Nzekwu, enumerated some of the innovation introduced by the state as regards tax to include introduction of Anambra State Social Identification (ANSSID), which according to him, helps to track all the transactions with the government.
