The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria has said the ongoing tax reforms in the country have increased demand for competent and ethical professionals, warning that practitioners must meet stricter standards under the new regime.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the institute’s 54th induction ceremony, the President and Chairman of Council, Innocent Ohagwa, said the evolving tax landscape places greater responsibility on professionals to guide individuals, businesses, and institutions through complex changes.

“There is, perhaps, no better time to be a tax professional than now.

Across the country, individuals, businesses, and institutions are seeking guidance. They are seeking clarity in the midst of change,” Ohagwa said.

He added that the institute had raised its standards on competence and ethics, stressing that technical competence is now non-negotiable for recertification while ethical conduct has become the bedrock of trust.

Ohagwa said the enactment of new tax laws marked a turning point for the profession, noting that provisions in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, formally recognise certified tax agents and reinforce the role of professional bodies in regulating practice.

He urged members to support the reforms, warning that professionalism and integrity would determine public trust in the system.

“We must all support these reforms, not just in words, but in practice. Guide your clients and employers with great competence and integrity,” he said.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Membership and Professional Conduct Committee, Yemi Sanni, said the induction comes at a critical period when Nigeria’s tax system is undergoing the most far-reaching transformation in its modern history.

According to him, reforms introduced from January 2026, including a new tax administration framework and harmonisation of tax laws, are already reshaping tax practice in the country.

He noted that the reforms would require active participation from professionals, adding that practitioners would play a central role in improving revenue mobilisation, protecting businesses and strengthening the fiscal system.

Sanni also stressed that the profession demands competence, discipline, and high ethical standards in a rapidly evolving environment.

Also speaking, the Registrar and Chief Executive, Afolake Oso, said the induction marked the formal entry of qualified professionals into a regulated system designed to uphold standards in tax practice.

She explained that the institute is statutorily empowered to regulate and control the taxation profession in all its ramifications.

Oso warned that members must comply with training requirements, ethical guidelines, and membership obligations, noting that failure to do so could attract sanctions, including delisting.

The induction ceremony formally admitted about 1,435 new members into the institution