There is disquiet among senior staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the Executive Chairman, Babatunde Fowler has refused to handover to the most senior director in the agency despite the expiration of his tenure, according to wazobiareporters.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
There are insinuations that Fowler’s appointment may not be renewed by President Muhammadu Buhari, and a former governor is likely to be appointed to replace him.
President Buhari had appointed Babatunde Fowler as the Executive Chairman of FIRS on Thursday, August 20, 2015, to serve a four year tenure.
Before his appointment, Fowler was the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue and the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
Fowler replaced Samuel Ogungbesan as FIRS boss and his tenure was to end on August 25, 2019.
However, Fowler’s appointment was confirmed on December 10, 2015, after he was screened by the Senate, fueling confusion over the actual day his tenure will end.
A circular dated August 25, 2019 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), was addressed to heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Directors-General, Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and Government-Owned Companies.
The was circular titled; “Compliance with the circular Ref No. SGF.50/S.II/C.2/268 of 4th December, 2017 on End of Tenure Processes for Extra-Ministerial Departments, Directors-General, Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commission and Government-Owned Companies and succession guideline.
It reads; “Some recent issues associated with the implementation of the Circular Ref No. SGF.50/S.II/C.2/268 of 4th December, 2017 on End of Tenure Processes for MDAs underscores the need to re-emphasize the contents of the said circular as well as the need for strict compliance with same.
“To this end, it is important to re-echo the contents of the circular as follows:
“Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Directors-General, Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commission and Government-Owned Companies are to keep the date of expiration of their tenure.
“Pending the appointment of a substantive Head of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Directors-General, Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commission and Government-Owned Companies, outgoing Chief Executive Officers, without any form of discretion, must hand over to the next most senior officer of the establishment, as long as the officer does not have any pending disciplinary matter.
“It is important to emphasize that the implementation of the clear provision of the circular under reference shall therefore not be subject to any form of interpretation, using any other indices or parameters, other than as clearly stipulated above.
“You are therefore enjoined strict compliance with the contents of this circular.”
It should be recalled that the Presidency questioned the tax collection variations and remittances by the FIRS for the period covering 2015 to 2018.
It noted in a query sent to Fowler, that there were “variances” between budgeted collections and the actual collections made by the agency.
The document titled, ‘Re: Budgeted FIRS Collections and Actual Collections,’ with reference number SH/COS/08/5/A/301, was signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari, and dated August 8.
The letter was a response to an initial report on tax collections Fowler forwarded to the President on July 26 with reference number, FIRS/EC/CWP/0249/027.
Due to the observed variances, the Presidency specifically directed Fowler to give “reasons for variances” by providing a detailed “variance analysis” for each tax head from 2015 to 2018.
The letter raised particular concerns over the collections for 2015 to 2017, describing them as “worse than what was collected between 2012 and 2014.”
The FIRS boss was further instructed to respond to the query latest by August 19 (today).
In the concerned years, the actual amount collected as tax fell below the budgeted target.
In 2015, actual collection was N3.7tn, while the budgeted target was N4.5tn.
A similar shortfall occurred in 2016, when actual collection was N3.307tn, less than the N4.95tn budgeted target.
Also, in 2017, the FIRS collected a total of N4.027tn, less than the set target of N4.89tn.
In 2018, actual collection was N5.32tn, while the budgered target was N6.7tn.
Get your copy today and take the first step toward financial growth:👉 https://selar.co/4f16676016
_______________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola
_______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
