- Chairman meets Tinubu

- FIRSC demand apology

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has condemned the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the closure of one of its offices in Abuja, describing the action as “malicious” and “unprofessional.”

In a statement released via X, Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Executive Chairman, accused the FCTA, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, of targeting the agency unfairly.

“It’s so unprofessional of the Wike-led FCTA to close our office, distracting staff going about their duties when we did nothing wrong,” Atoyebi stated.

“Especially in a crucial week like this when we are looking forward to signing the Tax Reform Bills. FCTA, you goofed big time, FIRS isn’t owing you.”

She further accused the FCTA of attempting to use the FIRS as a scapegoat.

“If you are looking for a fall guy, please move further, we shouldn’t be your scapegoat when you know well that the lies you spread in the media& your malicious/illegal action will hurt our operations.

“FIRS is not owing for 25 years. We have paid until 2023. We have the evidence,” she said.

Reacting to the development in a press conference on Monday, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, Dare Adekanmbi, said the agency had fulfilled all its obligations and described the action taken by FCTA as “rascality.”

“Why did they go to only two offices to say that we are owing ground rate on those two?” Adekanmbi queried. “Are you saying that we paid ground rate on others and we did not pay on those two offices? It is not possible. All our offices in Abuja listed in this letter, we paid ground rate.”

He further stated that for the specific property in question, the FIRS paid a total of ₦2,364,326 as ground rent.

“We don’t know why they refused to accommodate the money that was paid, why they refused to issue receipts for the money,” he said. “And they also went ahead to carry out this rascality, as my colleague said. Because this is what they have done. They have only invaded our premises for no just cause.”

Adekanmbi stressed that the FIRS, as a law-abiding agency, should not have been subjected to such treatment and insisted that FCTA officials must explain their actions to the public.

“We are demanding an apology from FCT officials who came to carry out this rascality. And they must explain to Nigerians why they chose that option. Because this is a government agency—a government agency that is law-abiding, that is carrying out the mandates of the President.”

He described the FIRS as “the most consequential government agency in Nigeria today,” noting that it accounted for a significant portion of government revenue.

“Sixty-five percent of the money that was shared at FAC in 2024, from January to December, was from tax revenue collected by FIRS,” Adekanmbi added.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Monday, held a closed-door session with the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji.

The meeting came on the heels of a directive by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, ordering the sealing of a FIRS office in Abuja over alleged failure to remit ground rent for a period spanning 25 years.

The action, which sparked strong reactions, prompted a swift response from FIRS.

While the presidency has not officially commented on the dispute, sources suggested the meeting between President Tinubu and Dr. Adedeji was aimed at resolving the tension and ensuring smooth inter-agency cooperation in the interest of national revenue generation.