By Isaiah Eka
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has expressed its determination to drive public support for the effective implementation of the tax reforms of the Federal Government whose implementation kicks off in Jan. 2026 when the new Tax Act comes into effect.
This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Mr Bala Musa, Director, Communications and Media of the Agency.
Musa said the Director General of the NOA, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the commitment on behalf of the Agency, when members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, led by its chairman, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, paid a courtesy visit to the NOA in Abuja.
Issa-Onilu noted that technology has made it easy for mischievous persons to effortlessly spread fake news and wrong narratives about the new tax laws.
He, therefore, emphasised the importance of sensitising Nigerians on the benefits of the tax laws in order to counter the wrong narratives spread by those who were either genuinely ignorant of its provisions or those acting out of mischief and an ulterior motive to undermine the efforts of the government to improve the tax system.
The DG said the new tax law would be beneficial to Nigerians as it specifically addresses the issue of double taxation that companies, business people, workers, individuals and investors are presently experiencing, among many other things.
The director general underscored NOA’s ability to reach wide audiences across the country with its advocacy and national enlightenment campaigns.
He noted that the agency had a wide spread of offices across the country with competent staff, who regularly embark on community mobilisation and sensitisation to promote government policies and national values.
Issa-Onilu highlighted the ability of the agency to work intelligently, identifying the different demographics across the country and applying the communication models appropriate to reach and appeal to each demographic.
“We have done mapping across the country for engagements with all Nigerians; that is why we can engage groups such as associations, CSOs, traders union, leaders, women groups, youths and many others.
“We do engagements with different groups across the country, and our staff are usually chosen from among the people so the people trust them; that is part of the advantage we have,” he said.
He highlighted the extensive partnerships with media houses which the NOA enjoyed across the country as part of its strength to communicate policies to every nook and cranny in the country.
“We work with over 200 radio stations across the country, and partner with 36 television stations, all put together broadcasting in about 72 local languages,” he said.
Earlier, Oyedele of the Tax Reforms Committee had revealed that his team was at the NOA to seek support for the committee in pushing out the right information about the new tax laws and countering the wrong narrative that was pervasive in the media and other public spaces.
“We believe that working together with NOA will ensure the passage of accurate information to Nigerians, even to those at the grassroots to know the benefits of the new tax laws.
“We observed that there is a lot of misinformation to people, especially those at the grassroots, including farmers, concerning the law. And the aim of such is to make them hate the government ignorantly,” he said.
The Tax Reforms Bill was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June this year, as part of efforts to simplify and strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal system. (ephemeralnews.com.ng)
