Prof. Ohaka calls for transparent tax system to boost grassroots revenue

John Ohaka urges Nigeria to adopt a transparent tax structure to enhance grassroots revenue and ensure efficient use of public funds

[dropcap]A [/dropcap] professor of Accounting and Tax Management, John Ohaka, has called on the government to implement a well-organised and transparent tax system to enhance revenue generation at the grassroots level.

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Prof. Ohaka, who serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Administration and Management at Rivers State University, made the appeal while delivering his inaugural lecture titled ‘Plug-and-Play Opportunities in Accounting and Taxation: A Social Contract Lens’ at the university’s 110th inaugural lecture in Port Harcourt.

Explaining the significance of the theme, he highlighted the critical role of accounting and taxation in national development, wealth redistribution, and economic growth.

“The plug-and-play metaphor underscores the multiple opportunities within a well-structured accounting and tax system. It shows how businesses and individuals can leverage government tax policies for economic advancement,” he said.

Prof. Ohaka recommended several reforms to improve Nigeria’s tax system, including greater transparency in public spending, provision of quality services to justify taxation, tax incentives for key sectors, and stronger collaboration between stakeholders.

He emphasised that the government must uphold its social contract with citizens by ensuring that tax revenues are effectively used for public services such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security.

“The looting of public funds should be a thing of the past,” he warned, stressing that corruption undermines transparency and erodes public trust in the tax system.

In his closing remarks, Rivers State University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zep-Obipi, praised Ohaka’s lecture, noting that his insights reinforce the role of taxation in driving socio-economic development.