FIRS EFCC collaboration renewed to strengthen tax compliance and protect public funds. Agencies vow tighter cooperation to deter financial crimes

FIRS EFCC Collaboration has been renewed to strengthen Nigeria’s tax compliance system and protect public revenue through tighter inter-agency cooperation.

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During a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Executive Chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji, emphasized that Nigeria’s financial stability depends on a system-driven approach to tax enforcement, not just chasing individuals.

“We cannot pursue 200 million Nigerians one by one to do the right thing,” Adedeji said. “But with a functional system in place, and with your help in enforcing consequences, compliance will follow.”

Adedeji commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its consistent support and called for even deeper collaboration, especially in the areas of fraud risk control, taxpayer investigation, and value assurance.

He noted that voluntary tax compliance would only rise when Nigerians began to see clear, visible outcomes from the taxes they pay.

“The best promotion for compliance is transparency—when people see what their money is used for. You (EFCC) are critical not just for prosecuting defaulters, but for partnering with our Fraud Risk and Assessment unit to guarantee value for money,” he said.

Highlighting FIRS’ improved revenue performance, Adedeji stressed that recent milestones were the result of preventive strategies and collaborative efforts with key institutions like the EFCC.

The EFCC, under its current leadership, has intensified its role in investigating tax-related fraud, corporate misconduct, and illicit financial flows that undermine national development.

The FIRS EFCC collaboration is part of a broader strategy by the Bola Tinubu administration to enhance domestic revenue generation, restore public trust, and enforce financial discipline across sectors.

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As Nigeria seeks to reduce reliance on debt and boost internally generated revenue, both agencies reiterated their commitment to a unified approach in tackling non-compliance, tax evasion, and financial crimes.