The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced a strategic collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to step up enforcement of tax compliance across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji said the partnership was necessary to strengthen revenue mobilization, curb tax evasion, and ensure that individuals and corporate bodies meet their statutory obligations.
He noted that while the FIRS remains committed to voluntary compliance through taxpayer education and engagement, it will not hesitate to invoke the law against defaulters who deliberately evade taxes.
“The EFCC has the statutory mandate to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, and tax evasion falls within that bracket. Our collaboration will ensure that those who attempt to shortchange the government face the full weight of the law,” Adedeji stated.
The move comes as the Tinubu administration intensifies efforts to boost non-oil revenues and reduce reliance on borrowing to fund public expenditure. Government sources revealed that trillions of naira are lost annually to tax evasion and underreporting, especially in the oil, telecommunications, and real estate sectors.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukayode, welcomed the partnership, pledging the commission’s readiness to support FIRS in tackling financial crimes related to tax evasion. He stressed that enforcing compliance was not only a legal matter but also a patriotic duty to ensure national development.
“This collaboration will send a clear message: tax evaders will no longer hide under technicalities. We are committed to ensuring accountability and transparency in the system,” Olukoyede said.
Economic analysts have applauded the move, noting that improved tax enforcement could significantly raise Nigeria’s revenue-to-GDP ratio, currently among the lowest in Africa. However, they also cautioned that enforcement must be balanced with transparency, fairness, and the elimination of multiple taxation.
