Northern youths decry smear campaign against FIRS Chairman, Adedeji

Youths in the Northern part of Nigeria, under the aegis of the Northern Youths Movement (NYM) have decried seeming sponsored smear campaign against the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, describing it as “exercise in futility.”

The youths said it was clear that some people were not happy with Dr Adedeji’s achievements in the FIRS within his one year in office as Chairman and they were out to scandalise him, affirming that those sensible Nigerians are behind the FIRS Boss and smear campaign against him will achieve nothing.

They described a report by an online platform, alleging that the FIRS Boss was interfering with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) investigation of corruption allegation against the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, as “propaganda childishly done,” adding that “even a one year old child won’t believe such cock-and-bull story.”

In a release in Abuja on Wednesday, which was signed by its Chairman, Mallam Ishaya Jato, the NYM said “what Nigerians are interested in is whether or not Dr Zacch Adedeji is doing his job and achieving results to shore up the revenue of the country and he is doing just that.”

The youths said it was funny that they premised their falsehood on purported appointment of the former ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, as the FIRS Chairman’s Special Adviser, asking how it has become an offense for a former ICPC Chairman to be offered an appointment to serve the country in whatever capacity.

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Our question is, assuming but not conceding that Dr Zacch Adedeji actually appointed Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, as his Special Adviser, how is that wrong? Shouldn’t someone have life again just because he once served as ICPC Chairman?

Obviously, those behind the smear campaign against Dr Adedeji must have search through his one year records in the FIRS and found nothing negative to use against him. Hence, their resolve to cooking up stories, but they have failed from the beginning because the FIRS Chairman has not been found wanting in the performance of his duties.

For instance, it is to his credit that non oil revenue has increased significantly and more than 200,000 new taxpayers and over 20 per cent increase in tax compliance were recorded as at September, this year.

It is also to his credit that the tax payment system has been simplified and unified such that taxpayers no longer need to visit FIRS offices. With the click of a button, all tax payments can be made.

Adedeji’s leadership of the FIRS simplified tax processes and payments nationwide, making them more convenient and reducing the cost of compliance and administration.

Therefore, those sponsoring publication of outright falsehood against the FIRS Chairman should know that we understand their frustrations, but we can only help by counseling them to look for something beneficial to themselves and the country to do.