FIRS and EFCC have renewed ties to strengthen tax compliance and safeguard Nigeria’s finances.
Their partnership aims to boost voluntary payments, enforce accountability, and restore public confidence in government revenue systems.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has renewed its collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure stronger enforcement of tax compliance across the country. The move, according to the FIRS, is a major step in its efforts to encourage voluntary tax payment and build a more transparent revenue system.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, revealed the development during a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. He explained that the partnership between the two agencies is essential to sustain financial stability, protect public revenue, and strengthen public trust in the government’s tax system.
Adedeji noted that the recently signed Tax Acts, which will officially take effect in January 2026, will transform the FIRS into the Nigerian Revenue Service. He stressed that with such reforms, cooperation between government institutions will become even more critical in achieving the broader goal of compliance.
He acknowledged that the FIRS cannot individually pursue millions of Nigerians to ensure they pay taxes but said creating a functional system backed by institutions like the EFCC would make compliance more effective. “We cannot pursue 200 million Nigerians individually to do the right thing, but we want to put a system in place that will aid compliance,” Adedeji said. He added that the EFCC has a crucial role in ensuring violators face consequences, noting that this sends a strong message about the government’s seriousness on tax matters.
The FIRS boss further explained that tax compliance would increase when citizens see the tangible impact of their contributions. “The main advertisement of voluntary compliance is when people begin to see what we use the money we collect for,” he said. He also pointed out that the Service’s success in meeting its revenue target was largely due to preventive strategies and collaboration with partner agencies.
President Bola Tinubu recently announced that the Federal Government had already achieved its annual revenue target by August 2025, with about N20 trillion collected. Most of this revenue came from non-oil sectors, highlighting the growing importance of taxation and the need for consistent compliance.
In his response, EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness to work closely with the FIRS. He stated that collaboration between the two agencies would send a clear signal to Nigerians that tax evasion and financial crimes will not be tolerated. “Collaboration is key. When they see EFCC beside FIRS, that will send a signal to the public that it is no longer business as usual,” he said.
Olukoyede also cited a recent Court of Appeal ruling affirming EFCC’s authority to investigate tax fraud as a major boost to their work. He clarified that while the EFCC does not assess tax liabilities, it can investigate non-compliance and support the FIRS in ensuring proper enforcement. According to him, their shared responsibility lies in prevention, investigation, and prosecution of financial crimes, which makes synergy vital.
Both leaders concluded by pledging to strengthen their working relationship, focusing on preventive measures and encouraging voluntary compliance as key pillars of Nigeria’s revenue system.
