ABUJA – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for making “significant progress” in strengthening Nigeria’s tax administration, especially amid ongoing reforms to boost domestic revenue.
At the opening session of an IMF-supported Headquarters Mission held in Abuja on Wednesday, Paulo Paz, a senior economist with the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, praised FIRS under the leadership of Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji for the progress achieved so far.
“We recognise the very good work that the FIRS has been providing to the citizens. The new laws bring new responsibilities, and we want to know how we can best support you with this new challenge. These powerful laws will increase the relevance of tax administration in Nigeria,” Paz said.
The mission is aimed at identifying key areas for further technical support as Nigeria begins implementing four newly signed tax reform laws introduced by President Bola Tinubu. The IMF also reaffirmed its readiness to help the agency tackle the challenges these new laws may bring.
In a statement released by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, the IMF described FIRS as a trusted partner and expressed confidence in its ability to effectively manage the ongoing reforms.
Representing FIRS Chairman Adedeji at the meeting, Chief of Staff Tayo Koleosho acknowledged the IMF’s longstanding partnership with the agency, particularly in digital transformation, VAT automation, and improving tax compliance.
Koleosho also noted that FIRS is transitioning into the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) by 2026, a change that will deepen its institutional reforms. He emphasized that IMF support will remain crucial throughout this process.
Also speaking at the event, Bolaji Akintola, Coordinating Director of the Corporate Services Group, highlighted the IMF’s role in institutional development through the Tax Administration Diagnostic Assessment Tool (TADAT). She said the FIRS had conducted two comprehensive assessments in 2018 and 2023 using TADAT, each followed by a targeted reform roadmap.
“The fact that the results of the 2023 TADAT showed significant improvement on those of 2018 is indicative of the commitment of the Service towards institutional excellence,” Akintola said.
The IMF visit reaffirmed global confidence in Nigeria’s tax reform agenda, with both institutions pledging to continue working together to enhance tax administration and improve revenue generation capacity.
