Revised tax legislation sets higher standards for experts, reshapes industry norms – CITN

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria has emphasized the crucial role of certified tax professionals in the country's fiscal system, following the enactment of new tax reform laws.

n

This development was highlighted by the Institute's President, Innocent Ohagwa, at the virtual opening of the 2026 Legal Practitioners' Conversion Training Programme on Tuesday, where he was represented by council member Funsho Abidakun.

n

According to Ohagwa, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act stipulates that only accredited professionals can represent taxpayers, citing provisions that underscore the importance of certified tax agents.

n

He noted that the new tax reform laws, enacted in June 2025, have elevated the role of tax professionals, redefining who can represent taxpayers and emphasizing the need for proper certification.

n

Ohagwa referenced specific sections of the Act, including Section 33(1), which states that a taxpayer may be represented by a tax agent accredited by the relevant tax authority, and Section 147, which defines a tax agent as a person certified by a professional body in Nigeria.

n

The CITN President stressed that this development reinforces the institute's mandate to regulate tax practice in Nigeria and highlights the need for legal practitioners to acquire specialized knowledge through certification.

n

He emphasized that the conversion training programme provides a structured pathway for legal practitioners to gain the necessary knowledge for admission into the institute, particularly in an era where taxation has become increasingly complex and multidisciplinary.

n

Ohagwa explained that taxation requires more than just legal knowledge, demanding an understanding of finance and business realities, and the ability to interpret statutes within this context.

n

He assured participants that they would be exposed to key aspects of the newly enacted tax laws and other specialized areas, urging them to take full advantage of the training and continue building their professional capacity.

n

The CITN President also encouraged legal practitioners to broaden their expertise in response to Nigeria's evolving fiscal landscape, recognizing that taxation is critical to the country's fiscal and national development.

n

Earlier, the Chairman of the CITN Tax Academy Committee, Titilayo Enitan-Fowokan, noted that Nigeria's evolving tax framework underscores the growing importance of professionals with expertise in both law and taxation.

n

Fowokan emphasized that recent reforms in the tax system have made cross-disciplinary knowledge increasingly critical, and that the programme was designed to equip legal practitioners with the knowledge required to navigate Nigeria's changing fiscal landscape.

n

She stressed that the programme provides a valuable pathway to deeper competence, enhanced professional capacity, and formal recognition within Nigeria's evolving tax landscape, and that legal practitioners have a key role to play in strengthening governance and compliance.

n

Fowokan added that the training would be facilitated by experienced professionals to ensure both practical and theoretical relevance, and urged participants to actively engage throughout the programme and uphold the institute's core values in their professional journey.

n

On June 26, 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed four landmark tax reform bills into law, including the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, to overhaul Nigeria's old tax system.