The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, has reassured Nigerians that the proposed tax reform bills currently under consideration in the National Assembly will not threaten the roles or revenues of government revenue-generating agencies. Adedeji addressed these concerns during a meeting held at the FIRS headquarters in Abuja, where he met with the heads of other key government agencies including the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, the National Information Technology Development Agency, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Adedeji emphasized that the tax reform bills, which include the proposed renaming of the FIRS to the Nigeria Revenue Service, are intended to streamline Nigeria’s tax system rather than diminish the roles or budgets of existing agencies. He assured agency leaders that the reforms are designed to enhance Nigeria’s fiscal efficiency and ease the tax compliance process.
“There is nothing in the bills that will reduce your funding, effectiveness, or efficiency,” Adedeji stated, addressing widespread speculation that the reforms would limit agency budgets or operational scopes. Instead, he explained that the new laws aim to build a strong foundation for sustainable funding across government bodies, while allowing them to concentrate on their core mandates without being burdened by revenue collection responsibilities.
Adedeji clarified that the rebranding of the FIRS to the Nigeria Revenue Service is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader strategy to unify tax laws and make Nigeria’s investment climate more attractive to foreign investors. By consolidating fragmented tax regulations and modernizing the country’s fiscal structure, the government hopes to stimulate economic growth and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.
“The goal of this reform is to bring us up to date, reflect our current realities, and encourage economic activities that will attract global business,” Adedeji said, highlighting that harmonizing Nigeria’s tax laws would reduce legal conflicts and boost investor confidence.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for other agency heads to discuss their mandates and ongoing contributions to Nigeria’s development goals. The agency leaders echoed Adedeji’s sentiments, expressing optimism that the reforms would create a more efficient and cooperative government framework for achieving Nigeria’s economic objectives.
The proposed tax bills, if passed, will further the government’s goal of shifting revenue collection responsibilities solely to tax agencies, allowing other entities to focus on their primary missions.
