MTN, CITN back tax reforms to boost national development

MTN Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria have canvassed urgent tax reforms to boost national development. They made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing 27th annual tax conference of CITN. Both organisations highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in fostering fiscal transparency and sustainable national development. During a plenary session, MTN Nigeria’s chief financial officer, Modupe Kadri, called for greater collaboration and tax compliance across sectors. Mr Kadiri stated that MTN Nigeria in 2024 alone, contributed N48.6 billion in taxes, underlining the company’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations.
“Tax compliance is critical to national development. At MTN Nigeria, we are fully committed to our tax obligations because we understand the role they play in building a stronger country,” he said. He advocated reforms that promote policy clarity, reduce compliance burdens, and ensure that tax revenues are transparently and effectively utilised. CITN president and council chairman, Samuel Agbeluyi, described the pending Tax Reform Bill as a critical opportunity to reframe Nigeria’s fiscal landscape.
Mr Agbeluyi, the 16th CITN president, said unified action from both public and private sectors was required to drive meaningful change in the tax system. “If we are serious about rebuilding trust, driving investment, and funding development sustainably, then tax reform must move from conversation to execution,” he said. He urged political leaders to show the will required to implement policies to enhance revenue generation and build public confidence in the system. Femi Falana, a senior advocate, said one major tax compliance challenge was the lack of trust between the taxpayer and the tax authority.
“The issue of trust has introduced such a negative relationship between the taxpayer and the tax authority, where the taxpayer sees the tax authority as an adversary. Tax education is such that we focus on giving understanding to both the taxpayer and the tax officials to know that there is need for cooperation,” he said. NAN