The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has rejected a call by the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement for its chairman, Zacch Adedeji, to step aside for an investigation into his lifestyle. Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, criticized the group’s demand, noting that it failed to specify any wrongdoing by Adedeji. She described the call as a “sponsored campaign of calumny” aimed at undermining one of the most effective sectors of government.
Atoyebi argued that under Adedeji’s leadership the FIRS has made significant strides in revitalizing public revenue generation and reducing dependence on borrowing. The service has implemented reforms that have plugged revenue leakages, strengthened the progressive tax system, surpassed revenue targets and improved staff welfare. She questioned the motives behind the group’s attack, pointing out that the FIRS has been a vibrant and functioning sector, and emphasized that any assault on the chairman is effectively an assault on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, given the central role of revenue mobilization in the government’s economic agenda.
The technical assistant called for an investigation into the motives of the Arewa group, urging security agencies to “urgently investigate those behind it as they qualify as enemies of state.” She stressed that Adedeji should be allowed to focus on completing his reforms without distractions, adding that those who wish to take over the service should wait until he finishes his term.
The controversy surrounding Adedeji’s leadership has sparked concerns about its potential impact on the government’s economic plans. The FIRS plays a critical role in revenue mobilization, and any disruption to its operations could have far‑reaching consequences. In recent years the service has implemented various initiatives to improve tax compliance and reduce revenue leakages, yielding positive results: it has surpassed its revenue targets and contributed significantly to the government’s coffers.
In the context of Nigeria’s economic challenges, the FIRS’s role is crucial, as the government relies heavily on the agency to generate revenue for critical public services and infrastructure projects. Any interference with the FIRS could severely affect the country’s economic development, making it essential for the government to take a firm stance and ensure the agency can operate without undue disruption.
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