ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) has teamed up with Integrated Consultancy Management & Accountancy Professional Services (ICMA) to train its management staff in preparation for the rollout of new tax reforms in 2026.
In a statement, the Executive Chairman of OGIRS, Olugbenga Olaleye, said the training, held in Ikeja, Lagos, was designed to strengthen leadership capacity and enhance professional competence in tax administration.
Olaleye, speaking at the two-day workshop themed ‘Re-Imagining Tax Administration: Strategies for Efficiency, Compliance & Reforms’, urged participants to apply what they learned to their directorates and units.
He said, “When you have opportunities to participate in training, utilise it, participate, cooperate, and contribute effectively.”
The chairman emphasized the importance of continuous training and innovation to expand the tax net and boost public awareness.
He explained that OGIRS must reposition itself structurally, strategically, and operationally while adopting a transparent, data-driven process.
“Develop your leadership skills beyond just functional capability to have an interface with taxpayers,” he added.
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Olaleye further noted that the success of any reform depended on the readiness of those in leadership positions, pointing out that the new tax regime would require adaptability, professionalism, and commitment from all stakeholders.
The Chief Executive Officer of ICMA, Lukman Buari, praised the initiative, stating that Nigeria had embarked on a bold overhaul of its tax system to eliminate multiple taxation and reduce dependence on oil revenue.
A resource person and Deputy Director at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr. Temitope Babajide, explained that the upcoming reforms were aimed at providing unified fiscal legislation and harmonising tax administration across all levels of government.
Also speaking, Vice Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dr. Prince Oyebade Oyedepo, called on tax agencies to develop partnership frameworks with professional bodies, educational institutions, and traditional rulers to enhance compliance and revenue mobilisation.
In their remarks, Coordinating Director Taiwo Ogundimu and Director of Field Operations, Oluwaseun Olajube, described the training as timely, noting that it would strengthen revenue mobilisation efforts, especially as the new tax reforms take effect from January 1, 2026.