FIRS: Nami’s Reforms Meet Zacch Adedeji’s Innovations
By: Nicholas Dakere
One of the best quotes about that celebrates continuity comes from former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan when he posited that “One thing that I know and I feel Nigerians will celebrate is continuity and peace”. That quote which combined with Goodluck Jonathan’s many actions to land him the title of ‘champion of democracy’ may have been referring to political continuity, but it will suffice in a discussion about the continuity of policy and impact. This much is what Nigerians may have witnessed with the actions of Zacch Adedeji, appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take over from Muhammad Nami who has seen his tenure through.
When Nami was appointed by erstwhile president, Muhammadu Buhari, he immediately embarked on the strengthening of the legal framework guiding tax matters in Nigeria amongst other reforms, thus laying the foundation for innovations in the processes of tax collection of all accruals to the nation. Tax collection in the years of Nami’s stewardship of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) appreciated consistently to close at a whooping 10.1 Trillion Naira in 2022. No wonder, he was the recipient of several awards both within and outside Nigeria.
But whereas Nami’s time at FIRS will best be remembered for setting the ground for a robust tax regime in Nigeria, feelers from Zacck Adedeji’s FIRS since taking over will suggest the man is all about innovation that explore the full extent of its legal framework to scale up tax accruals and shore up the nation’s economy.
Adedeji’s innovations center’s on ways of improving tax accruals to government, all the while erecting a bulwark to protect the masses from bearing the brunt of the vigorous tax direction. This is not an easy feat to achieve considering the delicate nature of Nigeria’s economic earners.
Notwithstanding the challenges associated with traversing such innovations, no one has any doubt about Zacch Adedeji’s ability to deliver the goods. The man comes cradling over 15 years of experience traversing corporate accounting, public service administration, and public/private consultancy.
A first Class graduate of accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife fondly referred to as the great Ife, by its alumni, Zacch Adedeji always leaves his Mark wherever he has worked. From serving as Commissioner of finance in Oyo state between 2011 to 2015 to a very eventful showing as Secretary and CEO at the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Zacch Adedeji has been a signpost of success through out his service career. His last position before landing the FIRS job was as Special Adviser in President Tinubu’s advisory team on revenue mobilisation.
Nigerians will hope that Zacch Adedeji performs his signature wonders at FIRS which is fast becoming Nigeria’s go-to agency for revenue mobilisation and economic stabilization. I have no doubt whatsoever that anyone who commands the confidence of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu will certainly be worth is weight in gold, especially considering the fact that the president’s economic recovery plan rests on the tripod of Cardoso, Wale Edun and Zacch Adedeji.
There’s no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is becoming more heavily reliant on tax receipts injected into the economy, with emphasis on non-oil tax revenue. And this makes Adedeji the oil that lubricates the disparate parts of a machine that must work for Nigerians. What better way to make good his promise than to commit to implementing the recommendations of the Quick Win report of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu “as they may apply” pending the approval of the President.
The imperative for getting it right when it comes to tax collection, especially eliminating multiple taxations and contribute huge resources into the national treasury can’t be overemphasized. Emphasis must however be on the support of all well meaning Nigerians for whom the reforms and innovations are expected to affect. Whatever becomes of our collective ambitions, Zacch Adedeji is the poster boy that will lead us to that place of safety in tax administration.
We must bear in mind that although Zacch Adedeji has cut a reputation as Mister fix it, he’s no magician. He therefore needs time to deliver on the mandate so confidently donated to him by Mr. President on whose table the buck must stop.
Dakere, a journalist writes from Kaduna
