Photo caption from left: Mrs Dapo Awolowo (Head, Office of the Special Adviser on Media to the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS); Mr. Dare Adekanmbi (Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman); Mr. Charles Okonji, National Chairman, Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN); Mr. Femi Olarinde (Special Adviser on Tax Policy) and Mr. Sikiru Akinola (Technical Assistant, Media) at the FIRS Media Parley with CICAN members in Lagos on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
*Promises to meet ₦12trn revenue target
By Charles Okonji
As part of efforts geared towards fulfilling its mandate, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has revolutionised its operations under the strategic tripod of people, technology and process to bolster productivity.
FIRS also disclosed that it realised 107 Per cent of its targeted N11.55 trillion revenue in 2023, promising to meet the over N12 trillion revenue target.
In pursuit of optimizing operations and enhancing overall effectiveness, the FIRS has strategically realigned its focus to bolster productivity, efficiency, and cultivate a customer-centric ethos.
Special Adviser to the Chairman FIRS on Tax Policy, Mr. Femi Olarinde made the disclosure in Lagos during a media briefing by the agency organised in Lagos for Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN).
In furtherance of its strategies, Olarinde said FIRS has launched the National Single Window initiative which aims to spur economic growth, providing business enterprises with effortless access to the global market by facilitating fast and easy operation at the nation’s port while harmonising and improving government revenue; Improve the tax compliance of international shipping companies lifting crude oil in Nigeria;
Also in the team were Mr. Dare Adekanmbi (Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman);Mr. Sikiru Akinola (Technical Assistant, Media) and Mrs Dapo Awolowo (Head, Office of the Special Adviser on Media to the Chairman.
Olarinde said tax payers have become the focal point in which their fears and needs concerning tax are meant, while deploying cutting edge technology and improved process, saving time and addressing inconveniences hitherto faced by tax payers.
He noted that tax payers have become the focal point in which their fears and needs concerning tax are meant, while deploying cutting edge technology and improved process, saving time and addressing inconveniences hitherto faced by tax payers.
According to him, FIRS has integrated nine (9) new modules on our tax administration system called TaxProMax, which has automated over 80% of manual processes.
“We have also revolutionalised tax office operation into a streamlined ‘One stop shop’ catering to diverse taxpayers by their categories: Large taxpayer, Medium taxpayer and Small taxpayer.
“This has improved customer satisfaction and has significantly reduced customer complaints between the 4th quarter of 2023 and the 1st quarter of 2024.
“Since September last year when the new Chairman came on board, FIRS has brought additional over 170,000 new tax payers into the tax net,” he stressed.
Olarinde disclosed that FIRS achieved 107% of 2023 revenue target of N11.55Tr by collecting N12.36Tr, adding that it has already achieved 81% of the collection of first quarter 2024 amounting to 3.94Tr being an all-time highest in the same quarter and 56% higher than Q1 2023.
In a concerted effort of FIRS to meet new targets, he said the agency has revised its structure to reflect the following: People-Centric, Effectiveness & Efficiency, Cohesiveness, Data-Driven Approaches, Adaptability and Cutting-Edge Innovation.
He explained further that FIRS achieved remarkable success in simplifying tax processes by offering personalised services and enhancing tax education, while adding that the organisation has increased tax compliance by 20%.
“We have launched the National Single Window initiative which aims to spur economic growth, providing business enterprises with effortless access to the global market by facilitating fast and easy operation at the nation’s port while harmonising and improving government revenue.
“FIRS has equally improved the tax compliance of international shipping companies lifting crude oil in Nigeria,” Olarinde said.
Also speaking at the event, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman, Mr. Dare Adekanmbi noted that no nation could record any significant development in terms of provision of infrastructure and meaningful livelihood for her citizenry without revenue.
He stressed that FIRS is one of the government agencies which have the mandate to provide revenue for the running of government at the local,state and federal levels.
Adekanmbi said FIRS “is committed to creating a healthy environment for businesses to thrive, stating that “FIRS does not tax the seed but the fruits, so that the industries and businesses would continue to have seeds to sow and flourish.
