FIRS Warns Tax Evaders: EFCC Now on Board for Enforcement

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has officially enlisted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a major push to clamp down on tax evasion. In a move that signals a no-nonsense approach to revenue collection, the FIRS has renewed a strategic partnership with the anti-graft agency to ensure full tax compliance from individuals and corporate entities.

Announcing the collaboration, FIRS Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, stated that the agency cannot individually pursue all 200 million Nigerians to comply with tax obligations. He emphasized that the EFCC’s involvement is critical to creating a system that compels compliance and restores public trust in the tax system. “You can help us by letting people know that when they violate the law, there is a place you can keep them,” Adedeji told the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.

In response, Olukoyede assured the FIRS of his agency’s full cooperation. “When they see EFCC beside FIRS, that will send a signal to the public that it is no longer business as usual,” he said. He pointed to a recent Court of Appeal ruling that affirmed the EFCC’s power to investigate and prosecute tax-related fraud, describing the judgment as a major boost to their mandate.

The renewed alliance comes at a pivotal time for Nigeria, which is seeking to diversify its revenue streams away from oil. Both agencies agreed that while voluntary compliance is the ultimate goal, a strong enforcement mechanism is necessary to achieve fiscal stability. This partnership serves as a stern warning to tax defaulters that non-compliance will now have severe consequences.