President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the national tax policy implementation committee (NTPIC).
In a statement on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the committee will ensure the implementation of the administration’s tax reforms in line with the economic aspirations of the government and the people of Nigeria.
According to Onanuga, the committee will be chaired by Joseph Tegbe, director-general (DG) of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), while Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, will oversee the committee’s work.
He said the committee comprises experts drawn from tax administration, finance, law, the private sector, and civil society, ensuring a balanced and inclusive approach to policy execution.
“The committee will undertake extensive consultations across the public and private sectors to ensure broad-based input into the implementation process,” the statement reads.
“Its chairman, Tegbe, is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCIT).
“He has over 35 years of professional experience across the public and private sectors, having previously served as a Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa.
“Mrs Sanyade Okoli, Special Adviser to the President on Finance and Economy, will serve as the Committee’s Secretary. Members also include Ismaeel Ahmed, Rukaiya El Rufai, and others.”
Tinubu said effective implementation of the new tax acts is vital to the country’s economic transformation agenda and essential for improving public finance management, while also protecting the interests of investors and productive sectors.
“These new Tax Acts reflect our administration’s commitment to building a fair, transparent, and technology-driven tax system that supports economic growth while protecting the interests of citizens and businesses,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.
“The National Tax Policy Implementation Committee will ensure coherent, effective, and well-aligned implementation across all levels of government.”
The statement said the NTPIC’s mandate emphasises broad stakeholder consultation through nationwide engagements with the private sector, professional bodies, and subnational governments, alongside public awareness campaigns to support effective implementation of the new tax laws.
According to the statement, the committee also prioritises strong inter-agency coordination by aligning the work of key revenue and regulatory institutions, harmonising existing frameworks with new statutes, and ensuring unified oversight and reporting throughout the transition process.
Tegbe expressed the team’s readiness to work diligently in support of national development.
“We understand the strategic importance of these Tax Acts. Our committee will work closely with all stakeholders to support the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy in ensuring seamless implementation and building public trust in the tax system,” he said.
Edun said the creation of the committee gives clear direction and the backing needed to overhaul not only the tax system but the entire fiscal policy framework.
“With the establishment of this Committee, Mr President has not only set the direction but also provided the authority and support required to reset not just the tax system but the entire fiscal policy framework of Government, to deliver significant economic growth for the benefit of all Nigerians,” the minister said.
The statement added that the NTPIC is expected to enhance revenue mobilisation, minimise leakages, and reinforce accountability, thereby strengthening the government’s fiscal sustainability and national development objectives.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
