Dr Lateef Agbetunde, Chief lecturer, Accountancy Department, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), has said that ethical taxation remained a strong tool for control and sustenance of an economy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agbetunde made the assertion in a paper he delivered at YABATECH’s 14th Inaugural Lecture.
The lecture delivered on Thursday evening was entitled “A Stitch in Time Saves Humanity: Proposing Ethical Taxation for
Sustainable Development’’.
Agbetunde, Member, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, said: “As responsible citizens, we must be ethical in the payment of taxes as part of our loyalty to support government in such a way that SDGs can be guaranteed.
“Taxation, as a regulatory instrument, is relevant to the implementation of the SDGs through ensuring social justice, inclusion, peace, partnership, economic growth/development and environmental conservation.
“This is not peculiar to Nigeria but obtainable in other African countries; evidences
exist that taxation had been used as instrument of governance even before colonisation.”
Agbetunde urged that ethical approaches must be ensured at tax policy formulation phase, tax
law enactment phase and tax administration phase.
The chief lecturer described system condition indicators as having to do with concerns for the effects of taxation on people’s health, wealth and level of satisfaction
“Value creation indicators concern both economic and social values
through the enrichment of individuals, communities, businesses and natural environment,’’ he said.
The chief lecturer also listed factors that could influence citizens’ decision to pay taxes to include attitude, norms/values, tax fairness, governance, trust in government and demographic factors such as age,
gender, religion, income level, culture, employment type and residence.
Agbetunde said that for sustainability to be ensured, there must be a symbiotic relationship between governments and citizens whereby governments would discharge their responsibilities through efficient
performance, and citizens would effectively pay taxes.
In his remarks,the Rector of YABATECH, Obafemi Omokungbe, said that the lecture was timely.
He described the presentation as flawless and thought-provoking.
Omokungbe said that Agbetunde conceptualised ethical taxation relationship with the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
“To make the lecture more understanding, Agbetunde offered the model for ethical taxation on the framework that considering social, environmental and economic issues, governments should ethically
generate wealth through taxation.
He noted that the chief lecturer urged that taxation should be embraced as a means of sustainably improving quality of life, especially for those living in poverty.
Mr Joe Ejiofor, Deputy Registrar of YABATECH, said that the institution’s inaugural lecture series provided an enabling environment for a lecturer to share his experience with the public on researches he had made.
“It is indeed a well-researched work. By this singular act, he has not only identified the problems but also made relevant recommendations,’’ he said.
The deputy registrar urged academics to conduct researches that would provide more solutions in the society.
