FIRS chairman driving strategic overhaul to meet N25.2trn revenue target — Aide
The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, is spearheading a strategic transformation of the agency to position it for present and future responsibilities, according to Collins Omokaro, his Special Adviser on Communications and Advocacy.
Speaking on the agency’s 2025 N25.2 trillion revenue target, Omokaro said achieving the ambitious goal requires a deliberate, inclusive approach to reform and innovation within FIRS.
He noted that under Adedeji’s leadership, the FIRS is expanding its human capital by recruiting skilled professionals and upskilling existing staff through targeted training programmes.
“FIRS is no longer just a revenue-collection agency,” Omokaro said. “It is now a vital enabler of Nigeria’s economic stability and long-term prosperity.”
He stated, “FIRS is at a critical point. We are redefining how we operate to meet both our present responsibilities and future ambitions. The scale of this responsibility has grown significantly, with annual revenue targets rising sharply from N10 trillion in 2023 to N19.4 trillion in 2024 and an ambitious N25.2 trillion for 2025. Meeting this ambitious trajectory will demand change, not just any change, but strategic, inclusive, and value-driven transformation. Often overlooked is the fact that change can mean growth.
“At FIRS, change includes expanding our human capital with more skilled professionals and building the competence of our existing workforce through training, upskilling, and reskilling. It involves augmenting our processes through digitisation, automation, and smarter workflows to reduce human error, increase compliance, and improve service delivery. We are also embracing advanced technologies that redefine how tax is assessed, collected, and monitored-allowing for real-time intelligence, better forecasting, and more efficient execution.
“This form of change is additive, does not take away, it empowers. It builds on our existing structure while introducing new methods, tools, and approaches to fulfill our mandate better.”
There are also areas where existing practices require refinement. Not all change demands a complete overhaul; in many cases, subtle but significant modifications can yield profound results. This includes improving turnaround times by revisiting internal workflows, streamlining taxpayer engagement for greater transparency and trust, and re-aligning internal structures to support performance-based outcomes and institutional accountability.
“Of course, some elements will need to be removed- outdated processes, underperforming systems, or unsustainable practices. But even this is done not for the sake of subtraction, but to create space for what is better, newer, and necessary. Change of this nature is not loss; it is strategic replacement, done in pursuit of excellence.
“FIRS is no longer just a revenue-collection agency; we are a critical enabler of Nigeria’s economic stability and prosperity. In a time when many tiers of government rely heavily on revenue from FIRS, our performance has direct implications for national development programs, infrastructure growth, social investments, debt reduction, and fiscal sustainability.
“The alternative- continued dependence on debt to fund basic government operations-is no longer viable. We risk mortgaging the future of our children if we do not decisively transform our budget structure to be more reliant on sustainable revenue streams.
“It is important for all internal and external stakeholders to understand that transformation at FIRS will occur at various levels and through various forms. This is not a one-dimensional reform effort focused on removal or downsizing. Rather, it is a deliberate recalibration of people, processes, and platforms to enable the Service to meet its targets- and by extension, ensure the economic prosperity of Nigeria and its future generations.
“This transformational journey is being led by the current Executive Chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, PhD, who firmly believes that the future of the institution, indeed the nation, rests on our collective ability to embrace bold, strategic, and inclusive change. Under his leadership, transformation is not just a policy direction; it is a value system.
“Let us remember that change is not synonymous with removal. It may come as addition, innovation, adaptation, refinement, or restructuring. Whatever form it takes, it is rooted in the mission to build a more responsive, capable, and future-ready FIRS, an institution that doesn’t just react to the times but leads the charge toward sustainable national growth. This is our journey. This is our commitment. Let US all be part of this change-whether it adds, subtracts, or transforms for the greater good of Nigeria.”
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