Mohammad Nami, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has been elected President of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators CATA.

Nami, is now the 15th President and will occupy the office for a three-year tenure, was elected by the 47 member countries of the association.

Addressing the association after his election, Nigeria’s FIRS boss promised to bring in his decades of experience in taxation and administration both in private and public sectors.

He expressed gratitude to members of CATA for having confidence in his ability to drive the association, noting that it is a call to duty.

Nami promised to serve dutifully and shoulder the responsibility that comes with the assignment.

“Your support is an honour that I do not take lightly.” Nami stated.

He urged members of the association to work assiduously in delivering on the mandate of his new office.

Nami pointed out that COVID-19 pandemic has made taxation the mainstay for economies around the globe.

He went further to note that with the COVID-19 lockdown, digital technologies have transformed the way and manner humans interact and do business with each other, which has consequently brought about novel challenges for tax administrators.

“This new normal brought about a greater embrace of digital technologies that came with its own challenges for tax administrators. One of these challenges is the inadequate capacity of tax administrators to understand and track digitalised transactions which has become the order of the day.”

He further promised that as President of CATA he will mobilise member countries and other tax bodies to build capacity of tax administrators to tackle the challenges they face.

“One goal I hope to achieve as your President is to work hand-in-hand with member countries to expand the character of tax administration such that our work is in tune with today’s innovation and realities,” he stated.