Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has reassured that the four tax reform bills currently awaiting approval in the National Assembly will not affect the funding or operational efficiency of federal agencies. Addressing concerns on Wednesday at the Revenue House in Abuja, Adedeji met with leaders from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

In response to questions about the proposal to rename FIRS as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Adedeji emphasized that the rebranding is aimed at enhancing operational efficiency across agencies. “I want to assure you that there is nothing in the bills that will reduce your funding, effectiveness, or efficiency,” he said, further explaining that the federal government is aligning its fiscal outlook to meet funding requirements while improving tax efficiency and compliance levels.

Adedeji noted that the reforms would allow agencies to focus on their core functions, such as technology development and education, rather than tax collection. “The bills will let various agencies focus on their core responsibilities rather than revenue collection,” he added, pointing out that the reforms aim to simplify Nigeria’s complex tax landscape by harmonizing existing tax laws. In support of these reforms, President Bola Tinubu had called on the National Assembly on October 3 to pass four key tax bills, including the Nigeria Tax Bill, Tax Administration Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which would replace FIRS with NRS.

However, the proposals have sparked opposition, particularly from the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), which has urged rejection of any measures that might negatively affect the region’s interests. In response, the presidency assured on October 31 that the reforms are intended to improve the lives of all Nigerians and optimize tax frameworks without disadvantaging any region. Despite calls from the National Economic Council (NEC) for further consultation, President Tinubu has insisted that the reforms remain under consideration in the legislature.