Journalists across Nigeria’s financial sector have been urged to be proactive in promoting tax literacy and enhancing better understanding of the country’s ongoing tax reforms.
The Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze made the call recently at the 36th Anniversary Conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) in Lagos, where he spoke on the theme, “Building Taxpayer Confidence and Trust in Nigeria’s Tax Reform Agenda.”
Nwabueze stated that FICAN serves as an important bridge between policy institutions and the public, as financial journalists help translate government’s fiscal policies and positions into information that businesses, households, investors and policymakers can understand.
He identified five key areas where financial journalists can make significant contributions.
These include explaining the law and its practical implications; examining implementation rather than merely reporting announcements; distinguishing lawful tax planning from tax evasion; investigating administrative fairness; and promoting financial and tax literacy.
“The media’s role is not to endorse every government policy or oppose every reform. It is to inform the public, ask difficult questions, verify claims and hold institutions accountable. A trusted financial press strengthens the quality of public discourse,” Dr. Nwabueze told the journalists.
He further commended Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, for his leadership and commitment to reforming Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration framework for greater fairness, inclusiveness and sustainability.
