By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Lack of accountability and deliverables have been identified as the major bane to sustainable development in Nigeria.
Adaze Aguele-Kalu, a chartered accountant and investment banker, highlighted this while delivering the keynote address at the close of the activities marking Kubwa Accounting Week 2026, organised by the Kubwa and District Society, aka Diamond District, at the weekend in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
Four papers were presented during the event themed: Aligning Taxation with Nation-building: The Role of Chartered Accountant.
Making a comparative statement, the former Edo State Commissioner for Finance said having travelled across several nations and experienced what transpires there, she realised that the major difference between the Nigerian tax system and those in other climes is that Nigerians are not seeing the deliverables of the taxes they pay due to lack of proper accountability and transparency.
“We are not feeling the deliverables of the tax being collected in Nigeria. The purpose of tax in Nation-building is to support the various facets of the economy; it’s the cornerstone of the economy. I see tax working in other places,” she said.
She emphasised the importance of tax alignment with nation-building in Nigeria, highlighting the country’s vast natural resources, including oil, hence there are no rooms for excuses as to why the nation is not doing well when in other climes, their only source of revenue is tax, and the people feeling the impact so much so that citizens smile when they pay their taxes.
She insisted that tax collected must be made to reflect in the life of the citizens through delivering working healthcare system, transport system, as well as infrastructure network among others, all of which, according to her is still zero in the case of Nigeria.
According to the expert, the recent tax reforms initiated by the federal government under the Renewed Hope agenda, which led to the enactment of four key bills: the Nigerian Tax Act, the Nigerian Tax Administration Act, the Nigerian Revenue Service Act, and the Joint Revenue Board Act, called the Acts is a very welcome development; it is a game changer if properly put to use.
She stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and digitalisation in tax administration to improve public services and economic development.
She urged Nigerians to ask those at the helm of affairs questions where they not feeling the impact of the taxes they pay, adding that aligning tax collection with Nation-building involves involves doing taxation properly, and tax payment should facilitate development in the real sense of it.
“So if you’re not seeing the the output of tax remittances, then you should questions, ask your governors, ask your local government, and others at the helm of affairs because the proceeds of the tax you pay is shared and given to the leaders for development, even at the grassroots,” Kalu challenged the audience.
Explaining further, she said, “As a resident in the UK resident, and you’re seeking work, you have something called Job Seekers Allowance. This means, in the process of looking for work, you go to your local job seekers office, you tell them you’re making efforts to look for work, and they give you a less amount of money so that you can use to put small food on your table.
“When you have a child up to the age of 16, that child gets what they call child benefits. As far as the child is born in the UK, the child gets child benefits. Now let’s go to Europe, in Sweden, if childcare is not filling in too well, you go to your NHS or your primary healthcare centre, you see doctors, you see nurses readily. You get treated, and you don’t pay a dime. Talk about school, your kids go to public schools, and they’re all trained. They use public transport up to the age of 16 is free. After the age of 60, it is also free. What am I trying to say? That’s an environment where tax is working.”
Mrs Aguele-Kalu noted that the Nigerian Revenue Service, NRS, being the major driver of tax collection in Nigeria is doing well but needs to up the game in terms of accountability and transparency, urging that in the interest of success reforms and effective taxation, the institutions must be strengthened to carry out their functions effectively.
She however expressed worry about the informer sector’s lack of data, saying that much more needed to be done, especially by upgrading in digital technology, to over the problem of paucity of data to enable effective tax delivery.
Acknowledging the importance of the role of chartered accounts in the administration of tax, the icon made them to understand that their role intersects between civil responsibility and nation-building.
She urged the chartered accountants in the hall to endeavour to do their works without compromising ethical and professional standards in the interest of national development, adding that it is a progressive journey that requires them to update in knowledge from time to time.
The first speaker, Dr Chimenka Ezeribe, who spoke on “Digitisation and Taxation: Lessons for Chartered Accountants” harped on the need for the accounts to embrace modern digital technologies such Artificial Intelligence, AI, to be able to solve problems and, make themselves relevant globally.
According to him, “No Nation-building without building the digital economy, and top rank countries in the world today are those most wired”.
Another speaker, Mr Shedrach Saddih spoke on “Protecting Sovereign Taxing Rights and Plugging the Leaks: The Role of Chartered Accountants”, while Prof. Chris Amafidon, delivered virtually, urging the chartered Accounts to update in digital technology in order to expand their professional and career horizon beyond the shores of Nigeria and contribute more to nation-building.
Dr Kennedy Iwundu (Associate Professor of Forensics) spoke on the “The Role of Chartered Accountants in Strategic Tax Planning and Task Risks Management (Focus on 2025 Nigerian Tax Reforms)’.
Hon. Nasiru Mohammed, former member, Nigeria’s House of Representatives and District Coordinator, ICAN Governing Council who also joined virtually due to unforeseen circumstances, declared open the event on behalf of current and 61st ICAN President, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, while congratulating Kubwa District for achieving the feat of organising this year’s Diamond District Week successfully, and thanking the keynote speaker, guest speakers, and other personalities for attending the event.
According to him, the theme of the event is “timely and strategic”, while the choice of speakers are accurate”.
Responding, the pioneer Chairman of Kubwa District, Mrs Ijeoma Ugwunebo, appreciated him for his fatherly advice all along, informing him that the session had been wonderful.
“It’s been a very engaging session for us and all our invited guests, and so we thank you, sir for your guidance, your fatherly role in ensuring that this district is thriving, not just the existing in the last 11 months of our existence. We have done a lot due to your support and your fatherly advice and encouragement every point of the way. So we say, Thank you, sir,” she said.
To conclude, a vote of thanks was giving by the Chairman, Accounting Week Committee, Mrs Ahmed Sullayman, during which she did a brief review of the week long activities and appreciated the speakers and all other stakeholders in attendance.