On June 15, 2023, when President Bola Tinubu made his first few appointments and Zacheuos Adedeji was introduced because the Particular Adviser on Income, it was clear to discerning minds that the subsequent Chairman of the Federal Inland Income Service (FIRS) had been unveiled.
Three months after serving as Particular Adviser to the President on Income, the ultimate vacation spot of Zacheuos Adedeji was pronounced. He will likely be transferring to the FIRS as Chairman, thus dwelling as much as his title; “Zacheuos The Tax Collector.”
Twelve months after taking cost because the Nigeria’s Tax Man, issues are starting to lookup for the nation when it comes to diversification of the nation’s income from oil.
By the tip of 2023, non oil income had elevated by 67 per cent, with greater than 170,000 new taxpayers and 20 per cent enhance in tax compliance recorded as at June, this yr.
The rise within the variety of taxpayers was occasioned by the emergence of extra companies, corporations, and industries within the nation, in addition to simplification and unification of the tax cost system.
Prior to now, there was Tax Responsibility and Worth Added Workplaces, amongst others, with taxpayers having to go to totally different places of work to fulfil their tax obligations.
At this time, taxpayers not want to go to FIRS places of work. With the press of a button, all tax funds may be made.
Adedeji’s management of the FIRS simplified tax processes and funds nationwide, making them extra handy and lowering the price of compliance and administration.
His lower than 4 months in workplace earlier than the tip of 2023 noticed to the surpassing of the federal government’s goal of N11.5 trillion by N800 billion. A complete of N12.3 trillion was generated in 2023, exceeding the federal government’s goal by seven per cent.
With a goal of N19.4 trillion set for the FIRS in 2024, a sum of N3.94 trillion was generated between January 1 and March 31, in comparison with N2.52 trillion generated throughout the identical interval in 2023. As an illustration, Worth Added Tax (VAT) assortment rose by 19.21 per cent within the first quarter of 2024 to N1.43 trillion.
Nonetheless, regardless of this efficiency, the income fell wanting the quarterly goal set by the FIRS, which was N4.8 trillion. This however, the Nigeria’s Zacheuos, is assured that the N19.4 trillion goal is achievable and he’s not relenting. He’s strolling the discuss.
Within the phrases of Adedeji, “The brand new goal is achievable due to an efficient tax assortment system and a viable financial surroundings for companies to prosper.
“What determines no matter now we have comes from micro-economic indices as a result of when the economic system runs effectively, we’re going to be taxing prosperity, not poverty.
“We are going to concentrate on the fruits and never the seeds. We have to guarantee now we have that viable financial surroundings that may result in financial prosperity. And for us at FIRS, it’s simply to place the system in place to help efficient assortment.
“We’re not a revenue-generating company, however a revenue-collection company. With the plan of President Bola Tinubu to rejuvenate the economic system, corporations are going to develop and prosper.
“We now have subsequently resolved to create an surroundings of progress by eradicating each impediment in the way in which of company entities and guarantee a tax administration that’s pleasant, customer-centric, and able to assist companies to bear extra fruits.”
Already, substantial progress is being witnessed in different income sources corresponding to VAT, Import Responsibility, and the Ecological and Mining Tax Levies (EMTL), together with the Frequent Exterior Tariff (CET) Levies.
As an illustration, in June, out of the gross statutory income of N1.432 trillion, a complete of N562.685 billion was accessible from VAT, which was larger than the N497.665 billion accessible in Might by N65.020 billion.
The statutory income of N1.432 trillion was additionally larger than the sum of N1.223 trillion acquired for Might by N208.773 billion.
Whereas Petroleum Revenue Tax (PPT), Royalty Crude, Leases, and Customs Exterior Tariff levies (CET) decreased significantly, Corporations Earnings Tax (CIT) and VAT elevated considerably whereas Import and Excise Duties and the EMTL elevated marginally.
However with all these and his willpower to boost the income bar of the nation to such a stage that oil income will grow to be much less vital, will Adedeji be the primary tax collector to be cherished by the individuals? I doubt.
Within the New Testomony of the Bible, the occupation of tax collector was regarded down upon by the final populace. Even Mathew, one of many disciples of Jesus Christ was unpopular and distrusted by most of his fellow Jews as a result of he was a tax collector.
Therefore, from the tax collectors of historic Israel to the current day ones, the tax man will most likely not cease receiving scorn and contumely.
Cause is, nobody likes to pay cash to the federal government. Due to this fact, it’s pure for many who collected the taxes for presidency to bear the brunt of a lot public displeasure.
Nonetheless, it seems this Zacheuos of Nigeria isn’t unmindful of the primary hazard of his job as a tax man, and he’s merely carrying on with the duty of placing the nation on the strongest pedestal when it comes to technology of income. He positive hopes that at some point, Nigerians will hear his title and what’s going to come to their minds will likely be “that’s the Zacheuos who made our nation much less depending on oil income.”
Olayinka, a journalist writes from the topmost a part of Oke Agbonna in Okemesi Ekiti
