The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reaffirmed its support for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in its ongoing tax reform efforts, commending the agency for what it described as notable strides in fulfilling its mandate.
This commitment was made by Paulo Paz, a Senior Economist with the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, during the launch of an IMF-supported Headquarters Mission held on Wednesday at the FIRS headquarters in Abuja.
According to Paz, the IMF team’s visit to Nigeria aimed to identify additional areas where the organisation could support the FIRS, especially in addressing potential challenges arising from the recently enacted tax laws.
A statement by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, quoted Paz as saying that the global institution acknowledged the agency’s contributions under the leadership of Zacch Adedeji.
“The new tax laws bring fresh responsibilities, and we recognise the great work the FIRS is doing for Nigerian citizens,” Paz said. “These reforms will further elevate the role of tax administration in Nigeria, and we are honoured to continue partnering with FIRS. Thank you for trusting our guidance—we look forward to supporting your journey further.”
In his welcome address, FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji—represented by Chief of Staff Tayo Koleosho—expressed appreciation for the IMF’s long-standing collaboration, noting that the partnership would continue as the FIRS transitions into the Nigeria Revenue Service in 2026.
Adedeji highlighted key areas of cooperation, including digital transformation, VAT automation, compliance programmes, and data-driven corporate planning.
“We are working to ensure our strategic goals are broken into actionable tasks, and IMF’s support in this regard has been vital,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Bolaji Akintola, Coordinating Director of the Corporate Services Group, noted that the IMF has played a crucial role in FIRS’s reform trajectory, especially through the use of the Tax Administration Diagnostic Assessment Tool (TADAT).
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She revealed that FIRS conducted two TADAT evaluations between 2018 and 2023, each followed by post-assessment missions that produced reform roadmaps to tackle identified systemic weaknesses.
“The improved 2023 TADAT results reflect our commitment to institutional excellence,” Akintola said. “If another assessment were conducted today, the outcome would be even better, thanks to progress made on previously weak indicators—many of which are now embedded in the newly signed tax reform laws by President Bola Tinubu.”
