FIRS Reassures: New tax bills won’t impact revenue agencies

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, has assured that the four tax bills under review by the National Assembly will not compromise the operations or funding of revenue-generating agencies in Nigeria.

In a statement released Wednesday, Adedeji addressed these concerns during a meeting at Revenue House in Abuja with leaders from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, National Information Technology Development Agency, and Tertiary Education Trust Fund. He clarified that the proposed renaming of FIRS to the Nigeria Revenue Service would not entail taking over other federal agencies, as rumored.

“I want to assure you there is nothing in the bills that will reduce your funding, effectiveness, or efficiency. Instead, the bills aim to create a solid foundation for your sustainability,” Adedeji stated. He added that these reforms are part of the Federal Government’s strategy to strengthen the fiscal framework, making tax collection more efficient and enhancing compliance across sectors.

Adedeji highlighted that the bills would allow agencies to focus on their core functions without the additional burden of revenue collection, enabling them to better serve their primary mandates. He also addressed concerns about the perceived reduction in roles for agencies, explaining that the reforms are part of a broader effort to harmonize Nigeria’s tax laws under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“The laws establishing various agencies contain embedded tax provisions, which must be implemented as stipulated. Harmonizing these scattered tax laws is the purpose of the Nigeria tax bill, aligning our tax framework with modern needs to encourage investment,” he added.

The agency heads also took the opportunity to discuss their mandates and contributions to Nigeria’s development agenda, affirming their commitment to the country’s economic progress.