FIRS seeks media partnership for tax reform awareness

Barbara Bako, Abuja.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has reaffirmed its commitment to building stronger ties with the media in order to foster improved public awareness and accountability around tax administration and reforms in Nigeria...

The call was made during a media sensitization and enlightenment program themed: “The Role of Media in Voluntary Tax Compliance”  held on Wednesday in Abuja.

Delivering the welcome address, Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant in Broadcast to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, emphasized the need for strategic collaboration with journalists to ensure the goals and impacts of the FIRS are better understood by the public.

“Your presence here today underscores the importance of collaboration between our organization, FIRS, and the media in driving meaningful public engagement, awareness, and accountability,” she said.

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She acknowledged the diversity and development potential of the North Central region but noted its unique challenges.

She said, “From infrastructural gaps to socioeconomic inequalities, from environmental concerns to security issues. In this context, the media plays a critical role, not just in information dissemination, but in shaping public perception, influencing policy, and holding stakeholders accountable.”

“This is not just about promoting the work of our organization, Federal Inland Revenue Service. It’s about enabling the media to understand the goals and community impact of what we do within the North Central Region,” She added

Atoyebi said, “Through this program, we aim to provide clarity on our policies and the data that drives them. We also hope to listen to hear your perspectives, concerns, and suggestions on how we can better communicate and collaborate.”

In the first technical presentation, Mr. Igninosa Bright, Head of the Tax Reform Analysis Unit at the Fiscal and Tax Reform Division of the FIRS, provided a comprehensive overview of the objectives and structure of the tax reforms.

He stated, “The essence of task performance is government using it as a critical tool to improve revenue generation, promote economic development, and promote the ease of doing business.”

Referencing the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Task Performance set up in 2023, he said, “The mandate of that committee was to, one, create a structure that will enable Nigeria to raise more revenue, also come up with a template that will stimulate economic development.”

Mr. Bright explained the simplification and harmonization of tax laws, noting, “What we now have, as of today, is that those imposition provisions are now in one document. That is the Nigerian Task Act 2025.”

On modernization, he said, “VAT collection will be done through fiscalization, or what they call e-invoicing, by virtue of this new law.”

He emphasized the importance of media support in driving taxpayer education: “The media must be very vigilant. The media must be ready to counter any misinformation. And to do that, you have to first of all equip yourself with the right information.”

In the second presentation, Prof. Iroye Samuel Opeyemi, a Professor of Strategic Studies and Conflict Resolution at the National Open University of Nigeria, spoke on the role of data-driven media campaigns in enhancing voluntary tax compliance.

“Literacy is very important. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. You cannot go beyond the level of what you know,” he remarked.

He noted that trust is fundamental to effective communication. “Public distrust. Sometimes the messages that are well-packaged are not acceptable because there is a public distrust. So messages need to be brought up about issues of trust.”

Highlighting Rwanda as a model, Prof. Opeyemi said, “They gave data-based information that are peculiar to the people and people feel part of the system. They are no longer seeing it as somebody forcing them to do it.”

He recommended integrating media partnership into tax administration frameworks.

He said, “I studied the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and I found out that there is no provision for media integration or partnership. Other than the fact that it says that we educate, to educate taxpayers. I think that’s an omission or an oversight.”

In his concluding remarks, he said, “Tax is not a burden, but a bridge. This is the message our media need to project. Let’s give the proper message through the use of data.”

The event brought together media professionals across the region, aiming to establish sustained dialogue and collaboration between the press and the revenue service.