African Tax Forum re-elects Fowler as chairman

The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) has elected the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Tunde Fowler, as its council chairman for a fresh two-year term.

In a release  signed by the FIRS Head of Communications and Servicom Department, Wahab Gbadamosi, Fowler was returned unopposed by all ATAF Council members at the forum’s 5th General Assembly meeting held  in Gaborone, Botswana.

Fowler had in 2016 succeeded Mr Gershem T. Pasi, the Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority,  Burundi, Burkina Faso, and Mauritius and contested the position of vice chairman, which Mauritius won.

Established in 2009, ATAF, the continental association of tax authorities, has 38 members.

Fowler said  at the meeting that ATAF’s health was robust and ready to propel its work into the next 10 years.

“The work of the organisation is at the peak of its visibility, both at the continental level and globally. The recent recognition of ATAF’s work by the African Union during the July Assembly of its Heads of State and Government in Mauritania, as well as the most recent acceptance of ATAF as a member to two sub- committees of the UN Experts on Mutual Tax Matters (ODA and Tax Treaties) that took place last week in Geneva-Switzerland, is a clear manifestation of the global and continental recognition and endorsement of ATAF as the leading voice on African taxation.

“This is a vision that we, as council, have steadily promoted, in our tenure, and we have no doubt the new council will strengthen and advance this vision,” he stated.

The ATAF chairman urged African countries to look inward, modernise their tax systems and generate revenue through increased tax mobilisation.