The enactment of Nigeria’s new tax reform laws has significantly raised the importance of certified tax professionals in the country’s fiscal system, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has stated. CITN President, Innocent Ohagwa, emphasized the development during the opening of the March 2026 Legal Practitioners’ Conversion Training Programme, held virtually on Tuesday. Represented by council member Funsho Abidakun, Ohagwa highlighted that the reforms have redefined who can legally represent taxpayers under the Nigeria Tax Administration Act.
According to Ohagwa, only accredited tax agents—professionals certified by recognized bodies—are authorized to represent taxpayers. “Section 33(1) provides that a taxpayer may either represent itself or be represented by a tax agent accredited by the relevant tax authority,” he explained. The president added that this legal framework directly reinforces CITN’s mandate to regulate tax practice in Nigeria and underscores the need for formal certification for professionals operating in this field.
The programme, which attracted 103 participating lawyers, aims to equip legal practitioners with the specialized knowledge required to navigate Nigeria’s increasingly complex tax landscape. “Taxation is multidisciplinary, sitting at the intersection of law, economics, business, and accounting. Effective tax professionals must interpret statutes in the context of finance and business realities,” Ohagwa said, urging participants to leverage the training to strengthen their professional competence.
CITN’s Tax Academy Committee Chair, Titilayo Enitan-Fowokan, also emphasized the growing value of cross-disciplinary expertise in law and taxation. She noted that the programme provides a pathway to formal recognition within Nigeria’s evolving fiscal system while enhancing practitioners’ professional capacity. “Your presence here reflects foresight and appreciation for the intersection between law and taxation in today’s dynamic economic environment,” Fowokan added.
The training comes in the wake of landmark reforms signed into law on 26 June 2025 by President Bola Tinubu, which overhauled the country’s outdated tax system. These include the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act. CITN officials stressed that legal practitioners expanding their expertise into taxation will play a vital role in strengthening governance, regulatory compliance, and Nigeria’s fiscal development.
source: punch