FIRS urged stronger media collaboration to boost voluntary tax compliance and drive Nigeria’s development.
Officials stressed journalists’ role in educating citizens, simplifying tax issues and promoting trust in public finance.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has appealed for closer collaboration with the media to promote voluntary tax compliance, emphasizing that taxes are crucial to Nigeria’s economic growth and national development.
At a one-day sensitization program in Kaduna themed “The Role of Media in Voluntary Tax Compliance,” FIRS Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji represented by his Technical Adviser on Broadcast Media, Arabinrin Aderonke described the media as a vital ally in educating the public and shaping positive attitudes toward tax obligations.
He noted that taxes fund hospitals, roads, and social services, pointing out that they are not simply government revenue but the financial foundation for the country’s progress. Despite this, many Nigerians still see tax payment as a burden rather than a civic responsibility.
Adedeji stressed that the nation must move beyond strict enforcement and penalties toward a culture of voluntary compliance built on trust and awareness. According to him, when citizens understand the benefits of taxation and believe in transparent management of funds, they are more willing to fulfil their civic obligations.
He also highlighted the importance of journalists simplifying complex tax laws and processes to help citizens connect their contributions with public services. This, he said, strengthens trust in tax administration and boosts compliance. He praised investigative journalism for exposing mismanagement of public funds, saying accountability helps build confidence in government institutions.
The event, which drew journalists, tax professionals, and government officials, focused on practical ways to improve collaboration between tax authorities and the media, including more transparent communication and accurate reporting.
Adedeji urged journalists to act not only as reporters but also as educators and influencers who can drive a cultural shift in how Nigerians perceive taxation. “Paying tax is part of building the nation,” he said, urging the press to frame tax compliance as a collective contribution to national progress.
Delivering a paper on voluntary tax compliance, Dr. Mohammed Adamu, Head of Kaduna 1 Emerging Tax Audit, described it as taxpayers’ willingness to declare income, file returns, and pay taxes without coercion. He stressed that voluntary compliance thrives in a system perceived as fair and transparent, reduces enforcement costs, creates trust, and provides steady government revenue to fund critical services like security, education, and infrastructure.
According to him, voluntary compliance also increases investor confidence, reduces evasion, and fosters patriotism.
Another speaker, Ishaku Ankuma, Senior Manager of Tax at the Kaduna Government Business Office, listed registration, accurate record-keeping, timely filing, prompt payment, and remittance of withholding tax as essential elements of compliance. He warned that failure to comply attracts fines, interest, criminal liability, and reputational damage, adding that tax compliance certificates have become prerequisites for many financial transactions.
The sensitization closed with a call for journalists to demystify tax issues, educate the public on benefits, and expose evasion to help build a national culture of compliance.
