CITN urges members to comply with code of conduct

THE President of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Chief Mark Anthony Chidolue Dike, has urged members to always adhere strictly to the institute’s code of conduct. Speaking at the 32nd induction ceremony at the weekend in Alausa, Lagos state, Dike said members of the institute owe the general public high-level integrity at all times.

You are expected to avail yourself of this important document (Code of Conduct), which will guide your conduct and activities as members.

Members owe themselves a duty to be truthful, professional and responsible in their dealings with clients and general public. There are existing structures in place to deal with professional misconduct within our fold, the tax chief warned.

According to him, the Nigerian Academy of Taxation (NAT) has already been established by the institute, which was conceived as an avenue to develop the human capacity needs of the taxation profession in Nigeria.

It is also expected to be a premier provider of tax education, emergent regional tax knowledge hub and a platform for regional and international exchange of knowledge. NAT would also deliver high standard of professional and post-graduate tax education for tax administrators and other professionals.

“It is pleasing to note that this long and tedious process of finding a long lasting resolution eventually saw the light of the day on February 12, 2015 when both the CITN and Institute Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) finally put pen to paper by signing the Terms of Settlement (ToS), which both parties agreed to file jointly at the Supreme Court for its consent judgement as well as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), that would thereafter govern the relationship between both Institutes with respect to membership and the practice of taxation”.

“I am greatly elated by the history that is being made today by the signing of these aforementioned documents.

It is a testament to the will power of the leadership of both institutes to persevere and hold on in spite of several vested interests and reservations by a few individuals on the expected outcome of the mediation efforts.

It is my expectation that successive leaderships of both institutes will commit themselves to fully implement the terms of the MoU and ToS without acrimony”, he stated.

Also speaking at the event, the representative of the President of ICAN, Chief Oye Akinsulire, said the issue between CITN and ICAN has been resolved permanently.

According to him when it comes to taxation in Nigeria, you cannot put ICAN members aside, but to put issues down, we resolved it as Nigerian government has recognised CITN as a professional body for tax.

“I look forward to a day and a time so soon when both CITN and ICAN will be organising joint conference meetings”, he stated.

CITN President also noted that with the completion of the Tax Professionals House and relocation of administrative offices, “we will now be better able to provide services to our teeming members and stakeholders in the tax system”.

Award was given to the overall best graduating student from Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and also the best graduating female is Miss George Abimbola Elizabeth who emerged the best in Tax Audit and Investigation.