The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has described corruption as the greatest enemy working against effective tax administration in the country.

The Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Kabiru Marshi, said this in Calabar, Cross River State at a workshop on the ‘Role of Women in Enhancing Revenue Generation and Utilisation for Economic growth’, organised by Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT).

He also said women had critical role to play in revenue generation and tax administration in the country, hence they needed to join in the crusade to fight tax corruption.

According to Marshi, who was represented by a director in the service, Mrs. Juniala Takom, collecting taxes without remitting same into government coffers and evading tax are all corrupt practices, which are hampering tax administration in the country.

He said so many Nigerians were evading tax, a development that was not helping government in its revenue drive.

He said, “Women also need to step up and go for elective posts, while those in positions of authority need to join in the crusade of stamping out corruption, which is the first enemy of progress in ensuring that the populace get value for the taxes they have laboured to pay.

“They also need to ensure that taxation as a culture is impressed on our children and also encourage their husbands to live within the provisions of the law.”

The FIRS chairman also advised women to take the issue of taxation down to the grassroots, adding that the FIRS was currently working on a presumptive tax regime for the informal sector.

“As SWIT members, you have the moral responsibility to join in the campaign for voluntary compliance, such as religious organisations, professional bodies, associations and market groups,” he said.

In her speech, the wife of Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Imoke, said it was remarkable to witness the quantitative and qualitative strength of women in taxation, normally viewed as a male dominated industry.

Imoke described SWIT members as living proof of the magnitude and impact of women on the economic growth of the nation adding “Gender in Nigeria Report 2012’’ shows that Nigeria currently ranks 118 of 134 countries in the Gender Equality Index.