AKIRS Takes Tax Education to Radio

 

... Winners of quiz segment to receive mouth-watering gifts

Priscilla Akpanettot

The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) has come up with a strategy to make citizens of the State pay their taxes voluntarily.

The strategy is the commencement of a tax education programme on radio, where extensive explanation on tax will be given to the public.

The programme which is titled "Tax Talk Time" in English Language and "Ini Nneme Tax" in Ibibio Language will be aired on Thursdays on Comfort 95.1FM, Uyo by 5:30-6:00PM; Redemption 101.5FM, Abak by 12:30-1:00PM and Heritage 104.9FM, Eket by 11:30AM-12PM, to cover the three senatorial districts of the State; with it's Ibibio Language version on Tañg Sio 102.7FM by 5:30PM on Fridays.

Chairman of the AKIRS, Sir. Okon Okon gave this information to Journalists on Monday, September 2, 2024 at the Conference Room of the Service.

According to Okon, the plan to intentionally take tax education to the public is hinged on the realization that the level of knowledge on taxation is reasonably low.

"We cannot hold people responsible for non-compliance and lack of knowledge and ability to pay their taxes when due", he said.

For this reason, the Chairman explained that the tax programme on radio will educate people on how, when, and the processes involved in paying taxes.

He therefore appealed for the support of the media in promoting the programme beforehand.

Buttressing the Chairman's explanation, a media expert and consultant with the AKIRS, Mr. Abasifreke Effiong added that the programme was conceived to take tax awareness and sensitization beyond interpersonal mode of communication.

"The idea came that we expand our communication channels to tax payers and increase the level of awareness and sensitization on tax so, the Board decided on a radio programme to show people what Government is doing with tax payers' money and thus, make them see the need to pay their taxes", he said.

He further informed that the programme will be a flexible magazine programme featuring a gingle, playlet, news and discussion segment, with a phone-in segment to allow listeners make enquires and get instant responses on tax matters.  

Effiong who disclosed that instant gifts would be given to listeners who provide correct answers to questions asked in the quiz segment of the programme, said that those who get up to two questions correctly will as well get a special gift at the end of the month.

The tax education programme initiative was appreciated and commended by the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Linus Nkan who described it as an aid to ease his job.

"People don't believe in Government; that's the reason they abandon their civic responsibilities. But Government cannot do well without the support of citizens and one way of showing that support is by paying taxes. Government needs money both for it's capital and fixed expenditure so paying taxes is an obligation everyone ought to partake in", he stressed.

He therefore praised Okon Okon for the creative thought, noting that it would bring about high productivity.

Also lauding the initiative were the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Akparawa James Edet; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk; Honorary Special Adviser to Governor Umo Eno on Tourism, Dr. Imeh Udoh as well as the programme producer, Mr. Uwem Obot.

The tax education programme which is structured in quarters will run for the next three months.