FIRS Deepens Tax Sensitization with Radio Programme, Urges Media on Professionalism

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, (FIRS) Zacch Adedeji has said the service is set to deepen its sensitization prowess with Tax File Radio Programme across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria which aimes at informing and educating Nigerians on tax related matters.

Adedeji represented by Arabinrin Bello while speaking in Abuja on Friday at a Radio Service Providers Sensitization program emphasized the need for the radio service providers to imbibe the ethics of professionalism while portraying FIRS in positive light.

He explained that radio reportage reaches wider audiences at the grassroots adding that tax reporting is very technical hence the radio service providers must ensure professionalism and journalism ethics in their reportage.

“We are very intentional about radio. We are very serious about it. This is why we want to take you through these sessions for you to know what we want, for you to know the do’s and don’ts at FIRS.

“We are delighted to start the journey with you. We look forward to professionalism. I’m still going to have an in-house meeting with the lead of each of the team of the service providers to put you through some things that will not be
discussed openly.

“As you know, tax reporting is very technical, everybody cannot just go out there to talk about tax. You have to be very careful because a single word can mar everything you say. So on behalf of the chairman of the FIRS, I want to say to you that we are happy to work with you.” he added.

Director, Communications and Liaison Department, FIRS Dr. Abdullahi Ismaila also stressed the importance of tax sensitization noting that duly payment of tax and other use of tax e-services will contribute to revenue growth of the country.

“You agree with me that once awareness increases about tax obligations, of course, people will be encouraged to pay their taxes. And once people, more people pay their taxes, that can contribute to revenue growth. And then that also can bring about tax compliance.

“These are pertinent areas that we need to frame our programs around so that people will get to know more about these e-services. And then once they are aware of it, we know for sure that tax compliance or revenue growth will happen.”.

Ismaila also stressed on feedback mechanism which FIRS leverage on to fine-tune their activities while using suitable languages through the radio service providers programs to pass their messages especially to the grassroots.

“This is one way that we can generate feedback on the various programs that will be run on
these radio channels. we rely heavily on the service providers because it’s part of the agreements that we sign with them to generate feedback for us.

“The number of people who listen to particular programs, the kind of program that generates more listeners than the others. So, that way, when we get the feedback, we sit back here and analyze this feedback and then plan other strategies where we see that some programs are not doing well.

“A lot of these people would need a program that will address their expectations that they will be able to understand. If there’s a need for us to use Pidgin, we can use Pidgin.”. he added.