The Federal Inland Revenue Service has said it will work more closely with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to ensure Nigerians pay their taxes.
The FIRS Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, made this clear on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. He explained that the collaboration was important to build public trust and strengthen the country’s tax system.
“We cannot pursue 200 million Nigerians individually to do the right thing, but we want to put a system in place that will aid compliance,” Adedeji said.
He added, “You can help us by letting people know that when they violate the law, there is a place you can keep them. On behalf of the President and Nigerians, we thank you for your support and seek even deeper cooperation.”
Adedeji stressed that Nigerians would only comply when they saw proof that their taxes were being used well. “The main advertisement of voluntary compliance is when people begin to see what we use the money we collect for,” he said.
He also credited Nigeria’s ability to meet its revenue target to preventive strategies and partnerships with agencies like the EFCC, noting that “it was a collective effort, not one by FIRS alone.”
President Bola Tinubu had recently announced that the government achieved its 2025 revenue target in August, collecting about N20tn, mostly from non-oil sources.
Responding, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede promised full support, saying the presence of his agency alongside FIRS would serve as a warning to tax offenders.
“Collaboration is key. When they see EFCC beside FIRS, that will send a signal to the public that it is no longer business as usual,” he said.
Olukoyede pointed to a recent Court of Appeal ruling which confirmed EFCC’s authority to investigate tax fraud, describing it as a major boost to their work.
“We are not assessors of tax liabilities, but we can investigate non-compliance and push assessment issues back to you. Our duty remains the prevention, investigation and prosecution of financial crimes. Synergy is therefore essential,” he explained.
Both leaders agreed to strengthen their working relationship, focusing on voluntary compliance and stronger preventive measures as the new tax laws take effect in January 2026.
