Media practitioners in the country have been urged to play active role in educating Nigerians on the need to pay their taxes, to enable government generate more revenue to finance public infrastructure.
The charge was given during a townhall meeting held on Tuesday, with media practitioners on FIRS tax processes in Asaba, Delta State powered by View Concept Technology Limited.
The lead paper presenter, Michael Oche, Group News Editor, Nigeria Pilot Newspapers, in his presentation, explained that the media has a critical role to play in increasing public awareness on citizens’ obligation to taxation, while also providing clarity on how tax is utilised by government.
He noted that lack of awareness on the importance of citizens contributions to government revenue through being tax compliant is a major reason citizens’ reluctant to pay tax.
He also said lack of information by citizens on how government spend taxes generated can also be responsible for tax evasion by citizens.
According to him, providing taxpayers with factual information about the use of tax revenues may increase self-reporting and tax compliance.
Oche urged media practitioners to reporting news stories basically focusing on successful public projects funded with tax revenues.
He said when taxpayers are exposed to positive news with evidence of how tax revenues increase public welfare, they are more likely to pay their tax correctly.
He said, “Nigeria without a doubt has huge infrastructural deficits. The country needs huge investment to fiance its infrastructural gap. Collecting taxes is a fundamental way for the government to generate revenues that make it possible to finance investments in human capital, infrastructure, and the provision of services for citizens and businesses.”
He said government’s quest to expand the tax net will need the media to play its part in educating citizens.
Our correspondent reports that participants at the meeting consisted of Print journalists, broadcasters, bloggers and even social media influencers.