Adedeji Explains Push to Rename FIRS, Expand Agency’s Powers
FIRS Executive Chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji,
…Allays fears over tax reform in Nigeria
Samuel Mobolaji
The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zaccheus Adedeji, has outlined the rationale behind renaming the agency to the Nigeria Revenue Service, stating that the new name better reflects its expanded mandate and authority to collect revenue beyond federal and inland sources.
This is even as the FIRS boss, allayed fears over tax reforms that would lead to new taxing systems, stating the revenue agency was not planning new taxes.
Mr Adedeji, while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, during the week explained that the current name does not reflect the true function of the agency and limits its power to carry out functions.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu sent four bills on tax reform to the National Assembly for passage.
One of the bills, the Nigeria Revenue Service Act repeals the FIRS Act, and also makes a name change.
The other bills are the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
Mr Adedeji explained that the “federal” and “inland” in the current name limit the powers of the commission.
In case of “federal”, he stated that the agency currently collects money for federal, states and local governments with the VAT collection.
He noted that the agency equally collects funds outside the shores of Nigeria from Amazon, Google and others, hence, the agency cannot be called “inland”.
Adedeji said the current taxes paid by Nigerians would rather reduce, adding that no agency will be merged in the process of carrying out the reform and no job will be taken from anybody.
“The tax reform basically seeks to increase the simplicity and efficiency of tax administration in Nigeria,” he said.
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