FIRS Chairman Assures Tax Reforms Will Support Agency Functions, Not Undermine Them
Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Zacch Adedeji has reassured stakeholders that the four tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly will not undermine any government revenue-generating agency or restrict its operations. During a meeting at the Revenue House in Abuja with heads of agencies like the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, the National Information Technology Development Agency, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Adedeji addressed concerns over the potential impacts of these bills.
Adedeji clarified that the renaming of FIRS to the Nigeria Revenue Service, a part of the proposed reforms, is not intended to take over the functions of other federal agencies. Instead, the reforms are designed to streamline Nigeria’s fiscal framework, enhancing efficiency and aligning with global standards. “I want to assure you that there is nothing in the bills that will reduce your funding, effectiveness, or efficiency,” he said. “The Federal Government is repositioning its fiscal outlook to meet the funding requirements of all agencies, with a primary goal of increasing tax efficiency and easing compliance.”
The proposed legislation would enable agencies to focus on their core mandates without the distraction of handling revenue collection. Adedeji emphasized that this restructuring effort is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader strategy to harmonize Nigeria’s tax laws and remove redundancies across various agencies and boards. He explained, “The laws that set up these agencies, commissions, and boards have tax provisions embedded in them… in the wisdom of President Bola Tinubu, for us to overcome these problems, we should harmonize these laws scattered in different books.”
Highlighting the importance of modernizing Nigeria’s tax framework, Adedeji added that the reforms aim to make Nigeria a more attractive destination for global investors, creating a more competitive economic environment. The agency heads present at the meeting took the opportunity to emphasize their respective mandates and contributions to Nigeria’s development, underscoring their commitment to a shared vision of national progress through streamlined, efficient operations.
