Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, says President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform agenda is at the heart of Nigeria’s strategy to build a resilient and future-proof economy.
Adedeji stated this while delivering a lecture titled “Economic Resilience in an Era of Dwindling Revenue” at the maiden lecture series of the University of Ilesa, Osun State. The event was hosted by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, and attended by academics, policymakers, students, and industry stakeholders.
He said Nigeria’s current revenue constraints should not be viewed as a crisis, but as an opportunity to drive urgent and overdue reforms.
Adedeji outlined the global headwinds straining public finances worldwide, citing digital disruption, rising public debt, climate-related pressures, and overlapping economic shocks. In that context, he argued, Nigeria must rethink how it funds development and cushions against future shocks.
According to him, the country’s path to long-term economic stability rests on a mix of stronger institutions, diversified revenue sources, and a modern tax system that reflects today’s digital and globalised economy.
He identified four key pillars for building economic resilience:
- Fiscal flexibility – the ability of government to adjust quickly to revenue and expenditure shocks.
- Policy coherence – aligning monetary, fiscal, industrial, and social policies around clear national goals.
- Institutional strength – robust, trusted public institutions capable of enforcing rules fairly and efficiently.
- Human capital adaptability – equipping citizens with skills to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy.
Adedeji said expanding non-oil revenue, deepening tax reforms, and investing in skills development were essential if Nigeria was to keep pace with global trends and reduce vulnerability to commodity price swings.
He also shed light on ongoing reforms at FIRS under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including:
- Automation of tax processes
- Expansion and optimisation of the TaxPro Max platform
- Better taxpayer identification and data integration
- Stronger partnerships with state governments to reduce fragmentation in the tax system
These changes, he said, are designed to improve efficiency, transparency, and compliance, while making it easier for individuals and businesses to meet their obligations.
Adedeji further challenged Nigerian universities to become active partners in shaping economic policy, urging them to develop evidence-based models for digital taxation, revenue mobilisation and economic diversification.
He described higher institutions as engines of innovation that can support policy design, strengthen national competitiveness, and help Nigeria navigate an era defined by rapid change and tightening fiscal space.
