New tax legislation redefines observe, units greater bar – CITN

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria has stated the enactment of the brand new tax reform legal guidelines has considerably raised the significance of licensed tax professionals within the nation’s fiscal system.

The president of the Institute, Harmless Ohagwa, acknowledged this on the opening of the March version of the 2026 Authorized Practitioners’ Conversion Coaching Programme held just about on Tuesday.

Represented by a council member, Funsho Abidakun, the CITN President famous that solely accredited professionals can act on behalf of taxpayers, citing provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act.

“The enactment of the brand new tax reform legal guidelines in June 2025 has strategically and ethically elevated the function of tax professionals. The brand new authorized framework has redefined who can symbolize taxpayers.

“Part 33(1) gives {that a} taxpayer might both symbolize itself or be represented by a tax agent accredited by the related tax authority.

“Moreover, Part 147 defines a tax agent as any individual acknowledged and duly licensed by an expert physique in Nigeria to symbolize the taxable individual,” he acknowledged.

He stated the event instantly reinforces the institute’s mandate to control tax observe in Nigeria and underscores the necessity for correct certification.

“It’s inside this context that this conversion coaching programme turns into very crucial. It gives a structured pathway for authorized practitioners to amass the specialised data required for admission into the institute,” Ohagwa added.

The CITN President defined that taxation has turn out to be more and more advanced and multidisciplinary, requiring extra than simply authorized data.

He stated, “Taxation, by its very nature, is multidisciplinary and evolving, sitting on the intersection of legislation, economics, enterprise and accounting.

“Changing into an efficient tax skilled requires greater than a grasp of statutes; it calls for the power to interpret these statutes throughout the context of finance and enterprise realities,” he added.

Ohagwa stated members can be uncovered to key facets of the newly enacted tax legal guidelines and different specialised areas.

He urged the 103 attorneys present process the coaching to take full benefit of the coaching and proceed constructing their skilled capability past the programme.

The CITN president additionally inspired authorized practitioners to broaden their experience in response to Nigeria’s evolving fiscal panorama.

“Your determination to broaden your skilled horizon into taxation displays foresight and a transparent understanding that taxation in the present day is vital to our fiscal and nationwide improvement,” he stated.

Earlier, the Chairman of the CITN Tax Academy Committee, Titilayo Enitan-Fowokan, stated Nigeria’s evolving tax framework underscores the rising significance of pros with experience in each legislation and taxation.

Fowokan famous that latest reforms within the tax system have made such cross-disciplinary data more and more vital.

“Your presence right here displays your foresight and your appreciation of the rising significance of the intersection between legislation and taxation in in the present day’s dynamic financial setting,” she stated.

She defined that the programme was designed to equip authorized practitioners with the data required to navigate Nigeria’s altering fiscal panorama.

“This programme gives a precious pathway to deeper competence, enhanced skilled capability, and formal recognition inside Nigeria’s evolving tax panorama,” Fowokan acknowledged.

The CITN official burdened that authorized practitioners have a key function to play in strengthening governance and compliance, notably beneath the brand new tax regime.

“Authorized practitioners play a vital function as custodians of justice, accountability, and regulatory compliance. By increasing your experience to incorporate taxation, you place yourselves as much more strategic contributors to nationwide improvement and monetary governance,” she stated.

Fowokan added that the coaching can be facilitated by skilled professionals to make sure each sensible and theoretical relevance.

She additionally urged members to actively have interaction all through the programme and uphold the institute’s core values of their skilled journey.

The PidomNigeria studies that on 26 June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed 4 landmark tax reform payments into legislation to overtake Nigeria’s previous tax system.

The reforms embrace the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Income Service (Institution) Act, and the Joint Income Board (Institution) Act.