Senate Confirms Adedeji as FIRS Chairman

*Says FG will review waivers, tax credit

*Vows to link NIN would be linked to Luxury Assets

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Mr. Zach Adedeji as the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service.

The new FIRS chairman, during his screening, pledged that the agency would reassess and reevaluate the importance of tax waivers issued to some organisations.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Adedeji in September to take charge of the revenue agency in acting capacity after directing Muhammad Nami to proceed on a three-month pre-retirement leave.

Adedeji said, “On tax credit scheme, when we developed it, there was a goal, we will check our goal when we set up this economic policy. Is it still serving that economic policy? And that is why change is inevitable most of the time. There was a purpose when they brought the tax credit scheme, but as of today that purpose needs to be changed.

“The law says all revenue should come into the coffers.  Only the National Assembly has appropriation right; taxes are federation money.”

He added, “We will look into that and reevaluate whether the reason we set up the tax credit scheme is still useful today or not.

“We will reassess all the waivers and reevaluate their economic importance whether useful or not.  We will review this, with your support.

“Our problem is lack of data. When you ask these people 10 times how much tax they should pay, they will give you 10 different answers.

Adedeji noted, “One of the visions I have is to develop the data upon which we will make decisions. It is when we have data that we can plan so that we will not ask them how much they will pay because we have the data

“We will centralize the identification system.  NIN becomes the basic identity everyone will have, everything will be linked to it.”

Fielding a question from Ali Ndume, chief whip of the senate, the FIRS chair noted that the National Identification Number could be used for effective and efficient taxation.

“We will develop the data to make the decisions. If NIN is tied to Rolls Royce or Bentley, you will tell us who gifted you. You can’t have a Bentley and have a tax clearance of N100,000.”

Ifeanyi Uba, senator representing Anambra South, said Adedeji is competent for the job.

“I met him in Havard and he led the class in Havard. He has led reforms. What are we going to ask him? He should take a bow and go,” Uba said.

On his part, Sunday Katung, senator representing Kaduna South, said,  “We interacted with him during our retreat. He is sound. He should be allowed to take a bow and go.”

Also senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, (APC, Cross River South), said FIRS has been doing well since he took charge of it.