The Institute of Finance and Control of Nigeria (IFCN), has advised the West African Union of Tax Institutes (WAUTI) to use its forthcoming international conference to increase the level of tax awareness in Nigeria and other member countries.

The Registrar of IFCN, Mr Eohoi Godwin, gave the advice in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said the conference would also address the high incidence of multiple taxation in member countries.

Our correspondent reports that the union’s maiden annual international conference, which theme is “Taxation, a Tool for Regional Sustainability and Development”, will hold between February 28 and February 29 in Lagos.

Godwin noted that the larger part of tax revenue was being paid by salary earners in the country, and tasked WAUTI to device ways to get more tax revenue from the informal sectors.

He said the tax experts should review existing tax laws of member countries to remove avenues of multiple taxations.

Godwin pointed out that the issue of multiple taxation had paved the way for high rate of tax evasion, especially in the country.

“People avoid paying tax when there is multiple taxation. They see it as a means of oppression from the authorities concerned instead of a way of improving the society,” he said.

The registrar tasked the President of the Union, Prince Kunle Quadri, a former president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), to devise means for effective tax regime.

He urges member countries to diversify their economy and make use of tax to better the lot of the people, adding that the conference must be used to develop and promote taxation as the pivot of economic development.

Godwin said WAUTI was expected to serve as an umbrella body for all professional tax bodies in West Africa.