By Simeon OSAJIE
A Professor of Accounting and Taxation at the University of Benin, Prof. Ofiafoh Eiya, has advised tax professionals to equip themselves with modern trends in fiscal system including, public finance, revenue forecasting, fiscal policy, government expenditure, public debt, fiscal federalism, public sector accountability, data analytics, digital knowledge and tools to enable them carry out their job effectively and efficiently.
Prof. Eiya stated this at the Investiture Ceremony of Clement Ogunsanya as the 9th Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and the inauguration of the 2026 to 2028 Executive Committee members of Benin District.
According to Eiya, tax professionals must evolve from being compliance technicians into a strategic fiscal professional, be familiar with fiscal system so that they would know how to advise government to resolve disputes and educate the taxpayers.
He said legislation alone cannot transform Nigeria’s fiscal system; technology alone cannot transform it; higher tax rate cannot transform it; enforcement alone cannot transform it; people will transform it and among the people who will determine the success of the tax and fiscal policy reforms are the tax professionals.
The Chairman of the occasion and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ekehuan Campus, Prof. Buniyami Ayinde, said the success of any government lied on its ability to collect tax from the citizenry.
“As an adult that is working in the system, you must find a way to contribute meaningfully well, not just by our intellect, but by what we received to develop the society” he said.
On his part, the President of the CITN Innocent Chinyere Ohagwa said that the expectation of the national body is for the District to mobilise its members and create a working relationship with key stakeholders within the jurisdiction, build capacity, encourage members and others to be tax compliant.
Speaking after his induction, Ogunsanya promised that his administration would improve on what they met on ground.
He said every achievement is built upon the sacrifices, encouragement, wisdom, mentorship and contributions of others.