The 17th President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mr Innocent Ohagwa, has charged legal practitioners seeking to become tax professionals to uphold the highest standards of technical competence, professionalism, and ethical integrity as Nigeria implements far-reaching fiscal reforms.
The President delivered the remarks during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Virtual Legal Practitioners’ Conversion Training Programme.
The Legal Practitioners’ Conversion Training Programme is organised by the CITN Tax Academy to equip legal professionals with skills to operate as tax professionals.
Mr Ohagwa noted that the taxation environment in Nigeria “is undergoing profound transformation”. He highlighted that four landmark legislations assented to on 26 June this year collectively “represent the most comprehensive tax reform initiative in Nigeria’s history”, designed to “harmonise our tax statutes, simplify compliance processes and strengthen institutional accountability.”
However, the President stressed that these new statutes “expand the frontiers of professional practice, placing greater responsibility on tax professionals of the CITN.”
He clarified the elevated expectations for practitioners, stating they are now “Expected to play a more strategic role, not only in understanding the provisions and implications of the new laws but also in providing sound advisory services, ensuring accurate application and upholding the principles of taxation with the highest standards of technical competence, professionalism, and ethical integrity.”
Ohagwa, who was represented by the institute’s Vice President, Simon Kato, explained that the Conversion Training Programme is critical because effective tax practice demands more than statutory comprehension.
He acknowledged that, as legal practitioners, participants “already possess a deep understanding of Nigeria’s legal framework.”
However, he emphasised that becoming an effective tax professional “requires more than a grasp of statutes; it demands the ability to interpret those statutes within the context of finance, accounting, economics and tax code computations.”
The Deputy Director, CITN Tax Academy, Mrs Yetunde Suleiman, welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of the training.
“At the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, we recognise the vital role that legal professionals play in promoting fairness and accountability in tax practice. The integration of your legal background with sound tax knowledge will not only enhance your professional competence but also contribute immensely to national development.
“The Academy has carefully curated this programme to ensure a rich and practical learning experience. You will be guided by experienced facilitators and seasoned tax professionals who will provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in this specialised field,” she said.
She maintained that the conversion programme represented the convergence of law and taxation, “two disciplines that are inextricably linked in the pursuit of fiscal justice, sound policy, and effective economic governance.”
Mrs Suleiman urged the participants as they commence their journey to “uphold the values that define the CITN: integrity, professionalism, excellence, and service to the nation.”
Also speaking, the CITN Tax Academy Secretary, Mrs Ndidi Attah, expressed a firm belief that the programme would benefit the lawyers.
