COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 150TH MEETING OF THE JOINT TAX BOARD (JTB) HELD ON 23RD JUNE 2022 AT TRANSCORP HILTON, ABUJA

The Theme of the meeting was “Effective tax compliance for political office holders: A panacea for national development”
The Board deliberated on various issues and adopted the following resolutions:

1. That it is the statutory and moral duty of every eligible citizen to comply with prompt and accurate payment of tax; tax compliance should be a prerequisite for holding public office and intending and serving political office holders should be fully tax compliant before being entrusted with superintending over public funds.
2. Multi-agency collaboration is imperative, and critical stakeholders such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the thirty-eight revenue authorities at the national and sub-national level require a deepening of relationships for enhanced tax compliance among intending and serving political office holders.
3. Existing multi-agency structure composed of nominated representatives from the identified critical stakeholders be formalised to carry out due screening, verification, and authentication processes of Tax Clearance Certificates on a zonal basis, to ensure taxes paid are in harmony with incomes earned and assets declared by politically exposed persons.
4. The Joint Tax Board to reinforce the drive for increased application of tax intelligence such as the Data for Tax initiative in the administration of tax nationwide.
5. The prevailing legal framework guiding the nation’s electoral process should undergo amendment to establish tax compliance, and the provision of a Tax Clearance Certificate as a requirement for seeking public office.
6. That the Executive and the Legislature at the national and sub-national levels show the required political will by voluntarily complying with their tax payment obligations and providing unwavering support for the national and sub-national revenue authorities towards ensuring full and accurate compliance.
7. That State Internal Revenue Services engage with their respective Local Government Councils and collaborate on measures to optimise revenue derivable from the administration of the previously unadministered Radio and Television License fees.
8. That the States and Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Services are unanimous in their approval of the implementation of the Single Interstate Road Tax Sticker (SIRTS) and Single Haulage Fee (SHF) initiatives of the Joint Tax Board.