The Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) and Ondo State Internal Revenue, on Friday distributed thousands of books on tax to the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in a bid to take tax education to homes.
The FIRS Coordinator of Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara States, Mr Ishola Akingbade, at the event on Friday in Akure, explained that the book, titled “Coming Book”, was specially designed for easy reading and understanding for people, preferably pupils in secondary schools.
Akingbade added that they decided to start the tax education from the foundation, saying “That is why we are starting with schools.”
He said tax was the bedrock of nation-building, and it was the reason the service decided to take it to consciousness of the people through their children.
“We use Ondo State as a pilot state because when it comes to the issue of tax, the state has been so fantastic, they are one of the best in terms of tax payment.
“We want people to know what we are talking about in taxation, what it is for, what type of tax we have, how do we pay all these taxes and how do we appeal to people if they are not satisfied with the process.
“We are very much optimistic that the effort will bring positive results because youths are very curious to know.
“Youths are also at the vantage position to educate their parents once they are well equipped with the importance of tax payment,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Tolu Adegbie, Chairman of Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS), told newsmen that his organisation was currently working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on how to establish a tax club in secondary schools.
Adegbie added that ODIRS was collaborating with FIRS on the tax education of youths, saying they would ensure that the distributed books get to many schools in the state.
“We are going to do follow up by going to those schools and talk to them and set up tax clubs in those schools, promote dialogue on tax among the students in the secondary school and at the university level.
”We are going to ensure that we take the importance of tax payment into their consciousness at a tender age, so they will grow with it and the issue of tax will not be alien to them when they become adults.
“We want them to be familiar with the concept of taxation which the country will benefit from in the future,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Mr Femi Agagu, Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, commended the FIRS for deeming it fit to make Ondo State the first port of call in the distribution of the books.
Agagu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Abimbola Folashade, also lauded ODIRS for their collaborative effort with the ministry, which he said had yielded good results. (NAN). READ ALSO:
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