“Tinubu Deprived Me From Setting More Records” – Rtd. FIRS Chairman, Nami,  Laments

By Adesina Soyooye

The just compulsorily retired Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, has lamented how his sudden retirement from office deprived him of setting more records than he claims he already did.

Apparently confused on the reason of his sudden retirement, he said he had done a good job, and was set to even do more when his retirement, with immediate effect, was ordered by President Bola Tinubu.

President Tinubu had on Thursday, asked Nami to proceed on a- three month pre-retirement leave. In his place, the President nominated  Dr Zacchaeus Adedeji, his Special Adviser on Revenue, in an acting capacity, pending his confirmation by the Senate.

But Nami who expressed his appreciation to former President Muhamnmadu Buhari who appointed him, and President Tinubu who allowed him to remain in office till his sudden retirement, said he was going to set a record but for his earky retirement.

Dr Nami’s feelings were contained in a farewell statement where he recounted his achievements in the less than four years he was in office. His tenure was to last for four years, and renewable after the first tenure.

One of them was his ability  to collect tax of more than eight trillion Naira within eight months which he said he would have set a new record of a minimum of N13 trillion at the end of the current tax year.

His statement, titled, “My Appreciation To Nigerians reads:

“With utmost gratitude to the Almighty God, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the erstwhile President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the incumbent President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the opportunity given to me to serve the country and humanity as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for almost four years.

“I want to extend my deep appreciation to the entire staff of the Service, our esteemed taxpayers, and Nigerians for believing in me, and for the support and cooperation extended to me throughout my tenure.

“I want to put on record that the support and cooperation I received enabled my team to meet our target, and set new records for tax collection in Nigeria.

“Even as I take my bow, we have so far collected more than eight trillion Naira in eight months and would have set a new record of a minimum of N13 trillion at the end of this tax year.

“During the inauguration of the erstwhile Board Members of the Service, I promised to raise the country’s Tax-To-GDP ratio from 6% to 10% in 4-years. We already have achieved a Tax-to-GDP ratio of 10.86% within two years (i.e. as at 31st December 2021.)

“I can, therefore, say that I am leaving as a fulfilled man knowing that I have served diligently. I am equally leaving a Service that is built on world-class best practices. Indeed, it couldn’t have been more fulfilling.

“I implore the staff, taxpayers, and Nigerians to extend the same measure of cooperation to the incoming Executive Chairman, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, to enable him to succeed. Tax collection is a sensitive matter that requires all hands on deck to achieve.”