Justice Ekaette Obot, the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, has urged an end to the persistent conflict between the state government and local authorities over tax collection.
During a 3-day training on taxation for judges, organized by the state’s Internal Revenue Service in partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Judiciary, Obot charged judges in the state to offer insights on resolving such disputes and provide an overview of the legal framework for taxes collected by the two organs of government in the state. She made this call while delivering a keynote address in Uyo.
The keynote address themed, “Contemporary Issues in Tax Administration,” was held at Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort on Wednesday.
“Here, I must say that there is a lot of dispute as to the collection of tax between the state and the local governments because a lot of them when they come to court, they will say, ‘No, it’s the right of the local government to collect’ in view of the constitution and the state will also say the same. So, I will like this to be ironed out at this training,” the CJ said.
She added, “The concept note before us outlines a well-curated training program to enhance the understanding of statutory and constitutional frameworks governing taxation, empower judges with insights into mechanisms for resolving tax disputes, and provide an overview of the legal framework for taxes collected by state and local governments.
“As participants embark on this training journey, the knowledge gained will enable our judges and magistrates to adjudicate tax-related cases with fairness, impartiality, and adherence to the principles of justice.
“Through continuous training and retraining, we can collectively build a more robust and efficient tax administration system in Akwa Ibom State.”
The Chief Judge expressed his gratitude to the state IRS for organizing the training and encouraged the resource persons to focus on effective mechanisms for recovery, explore options for tax prosecution, and equip judges with the necessary skills for administrative and pre-judicial procedures.
The Executive Chairman of Akwa Ibom Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Okon Okon, appreciated the CJ for approving the workshop and emphasized the important role that judges play in interpreting the law and ensuring fairness in the application of tax regulations.
He was hopeful that the training would achieve its intended purpose and facilitate knowledge sharing and ideas for improving tax adjudication and administration in the state.
He said, “We have carefully chosen a team of tax experts and experienced professionals who will guide us through the principles of taxation, contemporary issues, precedents, and legal procedures.”
“It is my conviction that they will do justice to the various topics slated for discussion in this stream and consequently improve overall justice delivery in tax matters,” Okon assured.