Naija News Today & Breaking News|Saharaweeklyng August 19, 2025

FIRS Launches USSD Code *829# for taxpayers’ satisfaction

FIRS Launches USSD Code *829# for taxpayers’ satisfaction In a bid to enhance ease of doing business, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on Wednesday,...

Business12 months ago

ICPC INAUGURATES ANTI-CORUPTION UNIT IN FIRS

ICPC INAUGURATES ANTI-CORUPTION UNIT IN FIRS Determined to entrench transparency and accountability in tax collection processes and operations at the Federal Inland Revenue Service...

Revolutionizing Taxation: Transforming Opportunities for SMEs in Nigeria

Business1 year ago

Tinubu’s order on crude oil sale in Naira will save Nigeria $7.3b yearly – FIRS Chairman, Adedeji

Tinubu’s order on crude oil sale in Naira will save Nigeria $7.3b yearly – FIRS Chairman, Adedeji President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on...

Business1 year ago

Govt must use windfall tax revenue for critical infrastructure projects-OAU Prof of Economic History

Govt must use windfall tax revenue for critical infrastructure projects-OAU Prof of Economic History A Professor of Economic History at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile...

Business1 year ago

FIRS Expands Tax Net With 170,000 New Taxpayers

FIRS Expands Tax Net With 170,000 New Taxpayers The Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, said it has expanded the country’s tax net with the capturing of...

Zacch Adedeji @ 47: Celebrating a Man of Exceptional Grace, Excellence By Dare Adekanmbi Ecclesiastical evidence abounds to affirm that God does not look at people or issues through the same prism from which human beings perceive matters. As mortals, we give primacy to mundane parameters as appearance or outward adornments, height or whether the person is oozing opulence or simply look at nobility of a person’s birth before ascribing value or judgment to such a person. The story of David’s ascension to the throne of Israel summarises how God make His choices. Prophet Samuel beheld the firstborn of Jesse named Eliab and, looking at his outward qualities, concluded “here comes the Lord’s anointed king who will govern over Israel.” But just before that thought could settle in the prophet’s mind, God told him that is not the man for the job. The story of Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is the story of a young, wise and brilliant man who has enjoyed exceptional grace of God. His father (of blessed memory) was a cocoa farmer from the mainly agrarian Iwo Ate town, in Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State. His mother is a trader-cum-farmer. It was thanks to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s matchless leadership and quality governance that the town at that time boasted some basic municipal amenities like school and a dispensary. I can imagine the joy on his father’s face when the news was broken to him that his wife was delivered of a bouncing bonny baby boy later christened Zacchaeus Adelabu Adedeji. While his father desired functional education for Zacch, the first child of the family, the greater joy for the cocoa farmer would be that the birth of Baby Zacch means an extra hand on the farm, heir apparent to the cocoa farming business. This perception perhaps prevented Zacch’s father from noticing the unique stars in the sky that heralded the arrival of a special child to the family, the humble background notwithstanding. The family did not realise they have been gifted a global talent whose brilliance and expertise will be acknowledged beyond the shores of Nigeria. While his father was looking at a child who will grow to become a helping hand on the farms, God was looking at a precious gift that will bring honour to the family name. Growing up for Zacch was not easy as there was no silver spoon in his mouth at birth. But with the grace of God upon his life, he was determined never to allow the circumstance of his birth dictate how far he could go in life. While going to school, he was also assisting his father in his cocoa farming. Zacch could not have chosen any other course in his post-secondary educational pursuit other than accountancy. He was his father’s book-keeper for the sale of cocoa produce. At the Federal Polytechnic in Ede, Osun State, where he studied Accountancy for his Ordinary National Diploma, Zacch came out flying with a distinction. Rather than return for his HND, he opted to further his studies at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he read management and accounting and finished with First Class honours. He did not allow the death of his father at about the time he was starting at Ife to extinguish his hope of having functional university education. Zacch’s special talent as a brilliant accountant quickly singled out from the new recruits at P&G. He saved the company hundreds of millions of dollars in needless expenditure and deploys his financial wizardry to catapult the company’s profit to new heights. For this exceptional display, the company dispatched him to one of the best business schools in Switzerland to share his experience with them. This feat earned him a seat at the management cadre of the American goods company earlier than any young recruit by the firm. He rose to become the Corporate Finance Manager for West Africa. It was while making his mark at the firm that he met a great leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (of blessed memory), sometime in 2009. He was just attending to what he would ordinarily consider a routine payment query when they met. Ajimobi was happy to meet a young chap from Oyo State making waves at such a company. From that time, a journey of mentoring, love and support that would remain with Zacch for a lifetime started. It was a meeting that also changed his trajectory from the private sector to the public sector. Ajimobi appointed him Finance Commissioner for Oyo State at age 33. Notable among his achievements include: raising Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about N600m monthly to about N2bn in a short period, blocking leakages by streamlining government bank accounts through which a lot of money was haemorrhaged from about 100 to about 10. As executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Zacch left an indelible mark, raising standards and re-engineering processes to deliver better quality service and increased productivity. When tapped as Special Adviser on Revenue by President Bola Tinubu, a lot of people speculated he would ultimately head the country’s tax agency, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). As an evangelist in the Anglican Communion, Zacch believes in the scripture that the power of life and death is the tongue. As the one whose duty it was to interface with FIRS tax officers while at P&G, he had said during one of his frequent visits to the Agidingbi office of the agency that “someday, I would like to work in this organisation and contribute to its transformation.” Today, not only is Zacch the executive chairman of FIRS, he has brought unprecedented transformation to the agency within a short period. FIRS, under Zacch, surpassed tax revenue target in 2023, leading to a higher revenue benchmark of N19.4 trillion set by government for 2024. Later this month, Adedeji will announce to Nigerians what the agency was able to collect in the year just ended. The agency has done well again and has exceeded the target from available information. To all who know Zacch and have had interactions with him, one special attribute stands him out: his humility. He relates with the young and the old quite well and the big success that God has given him does not get into his head. Many people have spoken so glowingly about this character trait in Zacch. In 2017, he and I returned to Nigeria from a trip to the US. He had gone on holiday and I had gone to cover the annual meetings of the World Bank/IMF. We were to lodge at a popular hotel in Ikeja on arrival. After dinner, the receptionist said only one room was left. “Give it to us. Dare and I will share it,” said Zacch. That was how we slept on the same bed that night. If there are so many positive things to say about Zacch who is 47 years today, then the future holds even a brighter future for the number one tax man in the country today. Our boss believes in Simon Sinek’s submission that leadership is not just about being in charge, but also about taking care of those in your charge. I join admirers and well-wishers to wish ZA many more happy years of his trademark brilliance and wisdom. May God continue to strengthen him in good health. .Adekanmbi is the Special Adviser on Media to the chairman, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji.

Business1 year ago

Zacch Adedeji wins public service award for fiscal innovation

Zacch Adedeji wins public service award for fiscal innovation Zacch Adedeji, the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has been honoured with the...

Business1 year ago

FIRS Chairman Calls for Strengthening of Internally Generated Revenue Capacity

FIRS Chairman Calls for Strengthening of Internally Generated Revenue Capacity The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji PhD, has...

Zacch Adedeji: And The Revenue Keeps Increasing By Rabiu Usman By Rabiu Usman

Business1 year ago

FIRS urges states to prepare for tax reforms

FIRS urges states to prepare for tax reforms The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has urged state governments to brace up...

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES FIRS CHAIRMAN,

society2 years ago

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES FIRS CHAIRMAN,

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES FIRS CHAIRMAN, ZACCH ADEDEJI, ON BIRTHDAY President Bola Tinubu celebrates the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service...

PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS NIGERIA'S GLOBAL TROPHY-WINNING COACH, SEBASTIAN BRODERICKS-IMASUEN

Business2 years ago

President Tinubu Appoints New FIRS Boss

PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW ACTING EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Hon....

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All posts tagged "FIRS"

FIRS Launches USSD Code *829# for taxpayers’ satisfaction

ICPC INAUGURATES ANTI-CORUPTION UNIT IN FIRS

Tinubu’s order on crude oil sale in Naira will save Nigeria $7.3b yearly – FIRS Chairman, Adedeji

Govt must use windfall tax revenue for critical infrastructure projects-OAU Prof of Economic History

FIRS Expands Tax Net With 170,000 New Taxpayers

Zacch Adedeji wins public service award for fiscal innovation

FIRS Chairman Calls for Strengthening of Internally Generated Revenue Capacity

FIRS urges states to prepare for tax reforms

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES FIRS CHAIRMAN,

President Tinubu Appoints New FIRS Boss

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