Government agencies got an assurance from the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, that the four tax bills being discussed in the National Assembly will neither hurt their operations nor affect the jobs of their employees.
The FIRS boss gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with the chief executives of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
Adedeji’s clarification was in response to worries that the proposed name change for FIRS to Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) could result in the merging of various federal agencies.
He, however, explained that the changes outlined in the bills are intended to improve the efficiency of these agencies rather than diminish them.
“There is nothing in the bills that will reduce your funding or effectiveness. Instead, these provisions will help build a strong foundation for your sustainability,” Adedeji said.
He restated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving its financial outlook to support all agencies.
According to him, the goal of the proposed bills is to enhance tax efficiency and simplify the tax process for everyone involved.
Adedeji pointed out that once these bills become law, agencies will be able to concentrate on their specific roles rather than worrying about collecting revenue.
He also mentioned that the current tax laws are outdated and overlapping, which creates confusion.
The aim of the ongoing reforms, he nother, is to help Nigeria become a more attractive place for investment.
“To convince business people worldwide that Nigeria is their best choice for investment, we need to make our tax system more streamlined and efficient,” Adedeji said.
Also yesterday, the House of Representatives Committee on Finance lauded the FIRS for its impressive progress and achievements, pledging unwavering support to the agency.
The committee gave its support during its members’ oversight visit to the Abuja headquarters of the agency.
Led by James Faleke, the Committee members inspected the agency’s permanent headquarters currently under construction in the Central Business District (CBD).
In a statement issued by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, Faleke expressed satisfaction with the transformation under Adedeji.
Noting the agency’s strides in increasing tax revenue and the ongoing infrastructural development, the statement reads: “For us, we can only commend the staff and management of FIRS and of course the contractors, for a job well done.
“We have seen the quality of work being done. They have designed it very well, and when we asked questions, they provided satisfactory answers. We are impressed.
“We visited the temporary building where FIRS currently operates and engaged with directors and staff. It is evident that chairman Adedeji has settled well into his role, and the staff are pleased with his leadership.”
Faleke further said: “Once the Nigerian Revenue Service bill is passed, we anticipate launching it in this new building, which will boost revenue generation for Nigeria. “We have always supported FIRS. Our committee is pivotal. If we withdraw our support, it would destabilize the system. It’s not about encouragement; it’s about fulfilling our duty to do what is right.”
Adedeji assured that FIRS would continue its collaboration with lawmakers to advance Nigeria’s development.