CITN commissions tax professionals’ house

The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) said its recently commissioned “tax professionals’ house” resulted from cumulative effort of its members.

While speaking in Lagos at the commissioning ceremony, Mark Anthony Dike, president/chairman of council, CITN, said: “Right from inception, the Institute had been carrying out its responsibilities and operations from rented offices. No doubt this had affected the expansion capacity of the Institute as we are always constrained to limit our operations within the confines of the available spaces.”

He added: “In order to address this issue, successive leadership of the Institute strived as much as they could to secure a permanent secretariat complex for the Institute. I am pleased to inform you that it was the cumulative results of these efforts that have metamorphosed to this ultra-modern edifice, name ‘Tax Professionals’ House.”

The land upon which the building is built was acquired in 2011, at the tenure of one of my indefatigable past presidents of CITN, Rasaq ‘Kunle Quadri.

Incidentally, the current vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo, who was ably represented by the then minister of state for finance, Yabawa Lawan Wabi, performed the turning of the sod on February 24, 2011. “Construction commenced in the later part of 2011 and was scheduled to be completed within 24 months. But this was delayed by the need to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals for the building project,” Dike said.

According to him, the Lagos State government under the able leadership of Babatunde Fashola through its relevant agencies like the Lagos State Land Bureau, Lagos State Surveyor General’s office, Lagos State Town Planning Authority, Lagos State Building Control Agency and others, gave accelerated approvals required for the project to continue.

“At some point in the project cycle when it appeared work was slow, we had to institute a weekly site meeting with the project consultants and contractors toward resolving issues that might have been the cause of the slow pace of work. I am delighted to note that this really paid off at the end of the day,” Dike said.

This edifice is a five-storey buiding with the following features: Ground floor, where our library, the education and research department and Nigerian Academy of Taxation Temporary Office are located; a hall for training and other social events; two letable floors; administrative offices, and council chamber, committee room and executive offices.

The building also has facilities such as: Two lifts; smoke detectors and fire alarm system; water treatment plants; sewage plants; 1 unit 400kva generator, second unit will be procured soon, and CCTV surveillance system.

“The project was completed without any loan from any financial institution. The building was solely funded through members’ contributions and donations from well-meaning stakeholders. To all members of the Institute who sacrificially carried out their financial obligations to the Institute, I am sure that you are all proud of what your monies have produced,” Dike said.

 

Iheanyi Nwachukwu