The Joint Tax Board (JTB) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) chiefs met on Tuesday in furtherance of their drive to enhance tax administration and by so doing improved revenue collections for national development.
The Executive Secretary of the JTB, Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, who paid a visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in Abuja hinted that the meeting was aimed at exploring collaboration options between the two entities on crucial matters, including system integration and the finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) them.
During the meeting, Adesokan highlighted the need for a robust partnership between the JTB and Customs, particularly on the issues of system integration, the pending MOU and on a proposed technical training session to strengthen partnership.
In his remarks, the NCS’ Comptroller-General harped on the importance of engaging stakeholders in achieving effective tax administration in the country, particularly given Nigeria’s very low tax-to-GDP ratio, which is the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
Adeniyi, who noted that no entity can handle such fiscal challenge without collaborating with other revenue agencies, promised to liaise with the Human Resources Department to facilitate the proposed technical training session and also advice the legal teams to hasten the processes that will lead to the actualization of the MOU.
Speaking at the parley, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernization Kikelomo Adeola, briefly spoke on a recent system integration between the NCS and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
According to her, the initiative aims to register only those vehicles that have paid the correct customs duties, contributing to the current drive towards improved tax administration at the federal level.
Photo Caption
Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Adewale Adeniyi (left) and the Executive Secretary of the Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, shortly after their meeting on Tuesday at the NCS head office in Abuja
