FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji Advocates People-Centred Approach to Boost Tax Administration

On Thursday, August 14, 2025, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), emphasized that a people-centred approach to tax administration is crucial for enhancing efficiency, fostering innovation, and driving national development, speaking at the Annual Performance Award & Retiree Send-Off Ceremony in Abuja, as reported by Vanguard and The Sun. Adedeji highlighted that recognizing and motivating staff are key to achieving FIRS’s objectives, with the event honoring outstanding employees and long-serving retirees to reinforce values like integrity and professionalism. He described such recognition as a “strategic investment” in Nigeria’s future, noting that motivated staff improve taxpayer engagement and revenue generation, with FIRS collecting ₦12.3 trillion in 2024, a 20% increase from 2023 (FIRS data).

Adedeji outlined FIRS’s performance evaluation system, which prioritizes quality of service, staff innovations, and a shared mission, beyond mere revenue targets. “When our people feel valued, they give their best, and the whole country benefits,” he said, aligning with efforts to enhance tax compliance amid Nigeria’s 15% tax-to-GDP ratio, one of the lowest globally (World Bank, 2024). The ceremony underscored FIRS’s commitment to workforce development, with 1,200 staff trained in 2024 to improve digital tax systems (ThisDay). X posts from @FIRSNigeria (August 14, 2025) celebrated the awardees, while @TaxWatchNG praised Adedeji’s approach but urged broader tax reforms to reduce evasion, reflecting public calls for systemic change.