The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, has stressed that cooperation among taxpayers, subnational governments, and other stakeholders is crucial to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws.
Adedeji, who noted that FIRS is transitioning to the Nigeria Revenue Service, said the agency cannot in isolation deliver the desired outcomes of the reforms, urging the private sector, institutions, and agencies at all levels to work together with the tax authority.
He made the call in Abuja on Monday during a special engagement session for directors of the agency, organised by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee at Abuja Continental Hotel.
“Our collective posture should be one of readiness to listen, adapt and deliver. A key pillar of the reforms is capacity building. The demands of modern tax administration, from digitalisation to data-driven compliance, cross-border taxation, and specialised industries, require new skills and approaches.
“As directors, you will lead the charge in equipping our officers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to implement the law effectively, while providing support to taxpayers,” Adedeji said.
He further pledged that the agency would invest “in training, technology, and systems that enhance efficiency, reduce compliance costs, and strengthen trust in the system.”
In his remarks, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, said Nigeria’s economic outlook has improved significantly since the beginning of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to him, the country’s balance of trade has shifted to surplus from deficit, while the government is no longer printing money to finance its obligations.
Oyedele added that the Tinubu-led administration has cleared unmet foreign exchange backlogs, improved external reserves to $23 billion in just two years, and strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals.
He, however, stressed that more work must be done to ensure that the gains of the reforms translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
“While the macro-economic results are positive, greater efforts must be made to ensure they translate to reduction in poverty rate and lead to job creation,” Oyedele said.
