The Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji, has commended the Armed Forces for their dedication to securing the country, which has yielded tangible results in tax revenue collection.
Adedeji disclosed that for the first time in a long while, FIRS has met its 2025 tax revenue target for the oil and gas sector, thanks to the maintenance of peace in the Niger Delta area.
The FIRS chairman spoke when the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and his team paid him a visit at the Revenue House in Abuja. Adedeji attributed the increase in tax revenue from oil production activities to the peace in the region, which has led to greater profits for oil companies and higher tax revenue for the Federation.
“Prosperity can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace, stressing the critical importance of stakeholders in the security sector to the sustenance of peace in the country,” Adedeji said. “The Armed Forces are critical stakeholders, and you are central to the sustenance of peace in the country.”
Adedeji praised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of security operatives, citing the recent approval of a huge amount of money for 1,550 units of housing estate for security personnel. He pledged to support the successful hosting of the forthcoming African summit for Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja.
General Musa commended the FIRS management team for rallying resources for the country to meet its needs and fund the operations of the Armed Forces. “We have seen remarkable changes since Adedeji assumed office as the head of FIRS. For us in the Armed Forces, we are nothing without funds. To even buy the good big guns we are carrying will be difficult without the funding.”
The CDS expressed gratitude for the increased revenue, which has enabled the Armed Forces to operate effectively. He also highlighted the importance of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference, which aims to discuss African problems and provide African solutions.
The visit underscores the importance of collaboration between the FIRS and the Armed Forces in enhancing tax collection and promoting peace and security in the country.
