The immediate past Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service in Nigeria, Mrs. Ifueku Okaru has been commended for championing the active participation of the country in local and international Tax Administration fora which have consequently influenced the formulation of feasible taxation policies in the nation.
Speaking at a special forum organized in Okaru’s honour by the Society of Women in Taxation, the Accountant -General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla in his key note address noted that Mrs. Okaru was instrumental to Nigeria joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development- a global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes in 2010.
“She brought about the active participation of Nigeria in the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA). The membership and participation in these International Organisations has laid the foundation for improved taxation policies cross boarder learning, capacity building, peer review, exchange of information and best practices”, Mr. Jonah Otunla said.
The Accountant -General of the Federation who was represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mrs. N.F. Mede, added that the profile of the FIRS and Nigeria, on Tax Matters has been appreciated in the recent past both locally and internationally.
He said during her tenure as the Chairman, Nigeria was at the fore front with other African Countries in the establishment of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) and the WEST African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF). Nigeria represents the West African Region in the ATAF Council, and chairs its finance and audit committee.
The AGF further stated that she contributed to United Nations Model Conventions for the avoidance of double taxation between developing and the developed countries.
Otunla meanwhile congratulated the organizers of the forum in their efforts towards creating awareness on important national issues and providing windows for professional women to contribute to public policy and “to honour a woman of substance who has made invaluable contributions to the socio-economic development of our great country Nigeria”.
