2nd from left, Mrs Chika Okoh; a Senior Programme Officer, International Budget Partnership,4th left,the Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre ( CISLAC),Auwal Musa Rafisanjani and (5th left) the National President of Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT) Mrs Bosede Ikhanoba , during the 2024 SWIT Leadership Retreat held in Abuja on Saturday.
By Victoria Onehi
The National Chairperson of the Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT) Mrs Bosede Ikhanoba, has said the objective of the leadership retreat was to equip the National Officers and State Chapter Coordinators with knowledge to assist in their respective engagements to play a key role in influencing tax policy and make a broader impact on the society through their work.
Ikhanoba stated this at the 2024 SWIT Leadership Retreat with the theme “Evaluating the Role of SWIT in the Tax system-strengthening Engagement for impart”which held in Abuja on Saturday, 7th December, 2024.
“We have been able to come out in the tax system space to make our voices to be heard but we discovered that there is alot we need to do. We need to fill the knowledge gap amongst us and also upskill to be able to carry out our role of advocacy more efficiently.” Ikhanoba said.
The 16th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr Samuel Agbeluyi, mni,FCTI who was represented by the Deputy Vice President, Dr Simon Kato,FCTI while declaring the retreat open, commended SWIT under the leadership of Mrs Bosede Ikhanoba,FCTI; the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC) for organising the impactful training programme that provided a platform for retrospection, performance evaluation and a renewed focus for greater impact.
The CITN President commenting on the theme for the retreat invited the participants to reflect on how women as change agents can harness their unique perspectives and skills to elevate Nigeria’s tax system. He concluded by noting that SWIT as an integral part of CITN, has set a commendable standard in supporting women in Nigeria’s tax profession and that its achievements reflect an organisation not just meeting its objectives but continually seeking to expand its influence.
Mrs Chika Okoh; a Senior Programme Officer, International Budget Partnership- a technical partner of SWIT said since their partnership with the Society began in the last two years, the association has grown from building professional capacity of their members to becoming strong advocate on tax matters for women and the general public.
” They were mainly into tax education/ sensitisation, but since our engagement began with them in 2022, they have come to realise and become active players within the tax system. As a result,they have seen that tax advocacy is a critical part of their role and they have included that as a major plan.” Okoh said.
The Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre ( CISLAC) another technical partner of SWIT,Auwal Musa Rafisanjani encouraged SWIT to continue in it’s advocacy role on tax matters.He called on the National Assembly and government to make sure women views on the current tax bill are taken and given priority.
In his presentation on Strengthening SWIT Engagements and Influence in Tax system, Senior Policy Advisor,Africa Centre for Tax and Governance,Dr Abdulyyah Aliyu spoke on ways SWIT can improve their engagements with the public.
“I will encourage SWIT to commission and publish research,do policy briefs on tax reforms and when it’s published their works will be displayed for all to see.” Aliyu said.
