As a Co-Host of the Renewed Hope Global Virtual Town Hall Conference, it has been my great honour to interact with some of Nigeria’s most inspiring and influential leaders. The virtual platform has encouraged a sense of unity of purpose, bringing together, among other leaders, Dr Zacch Adedeji and the stakeholders of Nigeria’s leadership and economic development to share their ideas and engage in meaningful dialogue. Of them, Dr Adedeji truly stands out.
When Dr Adedeji graced the Renewed Hope virtual platform, his presentation struck a cord in everybody’s mind. His ambitious yet sincere promises were not mere words but a pledge to change the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and, of course, our great country. Today, such words are being turned into reality and even surpassed. This is transformation, and we are all proud.
The demeanour of Dr Adedeji is very clear in my mind. One could feel a tone of steely determination in his voice as he unfolded his vision for the FIRS before all of us. He spoke not of tax collection but building relationships, removing business obstacles, implementing reforms, and creating a people-serving tax administration. His words were not just mere promises but a firm commitment to lead with integrity and purpose, instilling a sense of reassurance and confidence in his leadership.
On actualisation, it was far ahead in the first quarter of 2024, which clearly points to the difference Dr Adedeji’s leadership has made. The FIRS recorded an impressive collection of N3.94 trillion in tax revenue, a 56.7 per cent growth from the preceding year’s report during the same period. This is not mere statistics; it showcases the hard work, innovative thoughts, and strategic ideas that Dr Adedeji brought to the agency. Many reforms he implemented at the agency have been instrumental in this growth, inspiring hope and optimism for the future.
The vision of Dr Adedeji for FIRS was thus not only about tax collection but also about making a people-friendly and business-friendly institution by taxing the fruits, not the seeds. We can see that it is currently becoming a reality. Under his leadership, the FIRS is more open and more accountable and, therefore, more accessible and responsive to the needs of taxpayers and businesses. Thanks to effective leadership, the FIRS stands a better chance of realising the ambitious target of N19.4 trillion set for 2024, a task that was hitherto considered a tall order but is now within reach.
If one reflects on that town hall conference, generally on the outlook of that function, it all rushes back into memory at one moment or another: the hope, the optimism, the energy that filled that virtual room. In fact, his words instilled a sense of hope and optimism in us, and his actions since then have proved our trust was very well-placed. Under his leadership, FIRS steered Nigeria’s economic growth by ensuring its strength and sustainability as one of the government’s primary sources of income. He oriented all of us and gave hope to Nigerians for a brighter tomorrow.
Visionary leaders like Dr Zacch Adedeji teach us what can happen when vision meets action. His work at FIRS was not about meeting the revenue targets, no; it was a way to build a more robust and prosperous Nigeria, and we are deeply grateful for that.
*Hon Udeme Ukpe writes from London, United Kingdom*.
