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FIRS Milestone H1 2023 Performance, A Success Foretold, By Dapo Okubanjo
For any one who has paid more than a passing attention to the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in the last four years, the agency’s tax collection receipt in the first six months of 2023 would certainly not be surprising.This is because the FIRS under the leadership of Muhammad Nami has been constant in scaling new heights.
But even at that, a N5.5 trillion total tax revenue collection between January and June this year is not a mean feat especially as this was more than the N4.95trillion the FIRS collected in the entire 2020 fiscal year and about nine hundred billion naira less than the N6.4 trillion collected in all of 2021.
It is the highest ever tax collection by the service for the first six months of a fiscal year. But undeterred, the tax agency is convinced that it would better that number in the last six months of 2023.
In the words of the FIRS Executive Chairman on the day he made the record- breaking announcement at the meeting of National Economic Council (NEC) a few days ago, there are “better days ahead”.
And this he attributed to “continuing improvement to our tax processes and positive impact of current government’s policies on the economy”.A breakdown of the 2023 half year tax collection figure shows that while non-oil taxes continued to do well with N3.76 trillion, oil taxes stood at N1.73 trillion.
And listening to Muhammad Nami on the day, it would be difficult for anyone to bet against the agency exceeding that feat at the end of the fiscal year.
This is because it collected a total of N1.65 trillion tax revenues in June 2023 alone, the highest tax receipt by the agency in a single month.Success ForetoldA cursory look at FIRS trajectory since at least 2020 when the Muhammad Nami-led management assumed office shows that signs of a successful tax collection regime were there from the onset. This is inspite of the grim shadow of COVID-19 on the polity which was bound to have negative consequences on the economy.In the year the pandemic held the world in its grips, the agency’s tax receipt fell slightly short of its N5.07 trillion target when it raked in N4.95 trillion inspite of a global slump in crude oil prices and disruption to businesses.
One could easily recall how the FIRS Executive Chairman explained that the global oil slump impacted negatively on tax returns through the Petroleum Profits Tax which accounted for only 30.6% of the tax revenue generated in 2020, compared to previous years.So the country had to rely more on non-oil taxes which rose astronomically as a result of the deployment of a tax reform built on a 4-pronged approach which includes: rebuilding FIRS’ institutional framework, improving collaboration with stakeholders, making the agency a customer-centric institution and finally to turn it into a data-centric institution.
And with COVID-19 not fully a thing of the past, the tax reforms began to manifest in 2021 with increased stakeholder collaboration and the deployment of technology. It was the year of Tax Pro-Max so not surprisingly, FIRS overshoot its N6.401trillion target for that year.In a personally signed performance update for the 2021 fiscal year,the FIRS helmsman said the agency collected a total of N6.405 trillion in both oil (N2.008 trillion) and non-oil (N4.396 trillion) revenues as against a target of N6.401 trillion.
A further breakdown shows that Companies Income Tax amounted to N1.896 trillion; Petroleum Profits Tax brought in N2 trillion; Value Added Tax raked in N2.07 trillion; Electronic Money Transfer Levy topped N114 billion while Earmarked Taxes recorded N208.8 billion; among others. What this meant was that the non-oil sector contributed 68.64% of the total collection in 2021, while the oil sector’s contribution was 31.36% of total collection.
But in 2022, the oil sector did better as FIRS broke the N10 trillion mark by contributing 41% of the total tax collection for the fiscal year with an unprecedented figure of N4.09 trillion to N5.96 trillion from the non-oil sector according to the year’s performance update report.All of these can be attributed to a quantum leap in stakeholder engagements under the watch of the current FIRS leadership, an automated system with Tax Pro-Max as the guiding light for tax administration as well as training and retraining of FIRS staff to improve their capacity.
So it is quite easy to trace the performance index of FIRS from 2020 and come to the conclusion that its 2023 half year collection of N5.5 trillion was not entirely surprising. It is indeed a story of success foretold right from inception, not only because of the ongoing tax reforms but also because of improved stakeholder collaboration. And indications are that things can only get better.
Dapo Okubanjo is a journalist/public affairs analyst based in Abuja. He can be reached on dokubanjo@yahoo.co.uk
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The Senior Pastor and founder of Zion Flames Prophetic and Intercessory Ministries (ZFPIM),Apostle Promise Momo, has called on Nigerians to shun ethnic bigotry and embrace love and unity to move the nation forward.
In an Easter message personally signed and shared with journalists in Lagos, Apostle Momo emphasized the need for Nigerians to see one another as brothers and sisters, regardless of ethnic differences.
“We must look for ways to unify the nation in love, because united we stand and divided we fall,” he said.
The cleric condemned acts of hatred, violence, and exploitation, stating, “It is not the will of God to see people killing each other or hating one another, cheating one another, taking advantage of people, or preying on the weak.”
He urged Nigerians to build a society grounded in love and unity, warning that progress would remain elusive without these values.
Reflecting on the significance of Easter, Apostle Momo described the holiday as a cornerstone of Christian faith.
“Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, is one of the most significant Christian holidays on the calendar,” he said.
“The day commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who resurrected after three days in the tomb.”
Quoting John 3:16, he added, “Jesus Christ is love personified… I want to see love come back to life amongst we Nigerians.”
The pastor’s message comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with ethnic tensions and social divisions, underscoring the urgency of his call for unity.
Says Leadership Not Contest Of Noise
Says Nigerian Leaders Should Prioritize Governance over Politics
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama has called on the Federal Government to address the challenges of insecurity, revive the economy, and restore the dignity of human lives because Nigeria is bleeding, people are hungry, unsafe and disillusioned.
According to him, as a people, the citizens must rise above despair, division, and violence and commit themselves to peace, justice, and truth.
“Our country is bleeding – our people are hungry, unsafe, and disillusioned. It is therefore imperative that politicians in government focus more on addressing the real challenges before us: ending insecurity, reviving the economy, and restoring the dignity of Nigerian lives”, he said
While describing the political tensions and institutional breakdown that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as “deeply troubling”, the cleric said that although government intervention in moments of crisis is sometimes necessary to restore order and protect democratic institutions, the government must be cautious in its reactions and avoid actions that could further polarize an already tense environment.
Kaigama said these in his Easter Message titled, “The Light Shines in the Darkness, and the Darkness Cannot Overcome It”, taken from John 1:5 and sent to Arise News in Abuja.
He said Easter is not just a Christian ritual—but a powerful reminder that light always follows darkness, and life prevails over death.
Kaigama said, “Yet, even as we celebrate, our hearts are heavy with grief and concern over the senseless bloodshed and insecurity that continue to plague our land.
We mourn the tragic and reckless killing of innocent travellers in Uromi, Edo State—lives cut short without reason or mercy.
“We grieve the repeated violence and massacres in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau State, where entire communities are being decimated. These attacks have left families shattered and dreams destroyed, and they underscore the urgent need for a sincere and coordinated response to insecurity across Nigeria.
We are also alarmed by the continual hunger and economic hardship gripping our people. Families struggle daily to put food on the table, and children go to bed hungry in a nation so richly blessed.
“The desperation in the land is palpable, and it calls for immediate action from all levels of government, faith-based institutions, and citizens. As Jesus fed the multitudes with compassion, so must we work together to ensure that no Nigerian goes hungry in the midst of plenty.
“Equally distressing is the increasing trend of kidnapping and targeted attacks on clergy, especially priests who dedicate their lives to serving others. These brutal acts not only rob families of their loved ones but also strike at the heart of our moral and spiritual fabric. Every priest kidnapped or murdered is a blow to the conscience of our nation.
“In addition, the recent political tensions and institutional breakdown that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State are deeply troubling. While government intervention in moments of crisis is sometimes necessary to restore order and protect democratic institutions, we must be cautious in our reactions and avoid actions that could further polarize an already tense environment.
“Let this moment serve as a call to all stakeholders – political leaders, traditional authorities, civil society, and citizens – to embrace dialogue over division. No democracy can thrive without the culture of give and take, live and let live.
Power, like life, is transient. Therefore, we must strive to build bridges and not burn them, to prioritize the welfare of the people over personal or party interests. Let us resist the temptation of inflammatory rhetoric and embrace peace, understanding, and mutual respect as the pathway to lasting stability.
“We must also be deeply concerned about the rising tide of acrimonious political rhetoric that is spreading across the nation. Words are powerful, and when used carelessly, they can inflame tensions and deepen our divisions. This is not yet the time for political campaigns or endless jostling for power.
Let us demand accountability and protection for every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, faith, or region.
He said since leadership is a sacred responsibility, not a contest of noise, Nigerian leaders should “prioritize governance over politics, solutions over slogans, and unity over personal ambition. Nigeria needs healing, not hostility.”
Kaigama said that in the face of the darkness that seems to surround Nigeria and envelop her lands, “we must not lose hope” as Easter teaches that even the tomb cannot hold back the power of resurrection.
“As a people, we must rise above despair, division, and violence. Let us commit ourselves to peace, justice, and truth. Let us demand accountability and protection for every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, faith, or region.
“This Easter, may the risen Christ ignite in us the courage to speak up against evil, the strength to support one another, and the wisdom to build a Nigeria where dignity and life are sacred once again. Let our celebration not just be of Christ’s resurrection, but of the renewal of our national spirit. May God bless Nigeria, and may peace reign in our hearts and across our land”, the cleric emphasized.
ENDS***
Zion Flames Prophetic and Intercessory Ministries, a Nigerian church, has extended its charitable outreach to Uganda, donating food items, diapers, and clothes to an orphanage in Kampala during Good Friday.
The gesture, aimed at sharing love with vulnerable children, underscores the church’s ongoing commitment to supporting disadvantaged communities across Africa.
Glory Momo, the church’s Director of Protocol and Communication Strategy, presented the items to the orphanage, emphasising the ministry’s five-year legacy of philanthropy.
“Our ministry has been known for charity work across Africa,” Momo said during the event.
In a statement issued to journalists on Sunday, he added, “We have reached out to less privileged communities, refugee communities, and provided scholarships to students in Nigeria and across Africa.”
The church’s mission, according to Momo, is divinely inspired.
“This is what God has called us to do as a church, and we will not relent. What you see us do here in Uganda is simply sharing love with those who need it most—children who have been abandoned.
“We will continue, as the Lord enables us, to show love across the continent and the world.”
This is not the first time Zion Flames Ministries International has supported vulnerable groups.
The church has a history of aiding disadvantaged communities in Nigeria, including hosting celebrations with orphans during the Christmas season.
The donation comes as part of the church’s broader efforts to uplift marginalised groups, with its leadership pledging to sustain such initiatives in Uganda and beyond.