FIRS Mandates Staff On Surpassing N25.2trn Revenue Target

Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Zacch Adedeji has handed down a new strategic roadmap, anchored on three critical pillars for the management and staff of the tax watchdog to meet and surpass its N25.2 trillion target in revenue generation for 2025.

The FIRS had a record-breaking revenue generation of N21.6 trillion in 2024, surpassing its target of N19.4 trillion. Overall tax income increased to 76 per cent, according to official data as oil taxes increased by 35 per cent, with non-oil increasing by 97 per cent.

“As we step confidently into 2025, we must carry forward the momentum of these achievements with renewed energy, a clear vision, and a meticulously designed roadmap. This year, our focus will be on consolidating and institutionalising our internal strengths to ensure long-term resilience and operational excellence,” Dr Adedeji said yesterday at a management retreat tagged “Building a High–performing FIRS: Elevating Performance through Collaboration and Innovation.”

Adedeji said the mission this year is both ambitious and transformative: to build a service of excellence defined by the expertise of its people, the modernisation of its facilities, and the innovative use of technology to enhance its processes. “This mission is not just about sustaining our success but about consistently elevating our impact and solidifying our position as a model revenue authority on the global stage,” he said at the 2-day retreat in Abuja.

He strongly believes that the FIRS has the capacity to surpass the N25.2 trillion target this year through laid-down strategies.

To achieve that feat, Adedeji said the service will empower the workforce with the tools, knowledge, and skills needed to excel in modern tax administration. “We will continue to invest in revitalising our workspaces, ensuring they reflect the vision of a world-class institution,” he promised, adding that his administration will deploy advanced technology to drive its transformation in 2025 by expanding integrated tax administration systems, unifying national platforms on collection, leveraging emerging technologies, and create seamless, efficient, and transparent processes that redefine the taxpayer experience.

The FIRS chairman brags that the pillars he hopes to drive his revenue target are not abstract ideas. He calls them practical, actionable objectives that will be realised in every group, department, and operation within the service.

For the FIRS, 2024 was pivotal in laying a solid foundation for transforming itself into a globally recognised, efficient, and trusted revenue authority. It marked a period of strategic growth, positioning the service as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic progress.

The coordinating director, Large Taxpayers Group, Amina Ado said significant changes in revenue growth occurred in 2022 and 2024 driven by administrative reforms, Policy reforms, and macroeconomic conditions. She said the number of financial institutions filing and paying taxes increased by a record 84 percent.

Some of the things that worked for the FIRS in 2024 include the training of about 7,000 staff nationwide, implementation of SAP Success Factor and tax optimisation initiatives, and improved staff welfare with a 60 per cent salary increase, the management stated. It also implemented a new organisational structure and customer-focused reforms under the slogan: simplifying tax, and maximising revenue to enhance service delivery and revenue generation.

Implemented digital transformation initiatives, upgraded IT infrastructure, and worked actively to simplify trade processes through the Single Window Project.

Chief of staff to the FIRS chairman, Tayo Koleosho said in 2025, FIRS will position technology as a central driver of tax administration by expanding integrated systems for end-to-end digital processing, enhancing taxpayer platforms for seamless access, and leveraging emerging technologies for audits, compliance, and fraud detection to unlock new revenue opportunities.

“FIRS will invest in upgrading infrastructure and facilities, modernising offices to international standards,” he stated.