I have said it countless times and will continue to say: Zacch Adedeji is not here to play. From day one, as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, we all knew that things were about to change for good. The tax boss came in with a plan, a vision, and the determination to make the tax system work better for Nigerians.

The just-concluded Strategic Management Retreat, themed Reimagining Tax Administration for Equity and Economic Growth, brought together FIRS’s top management and powerful voices from government, professional organizations, and the private sector. Everyone came with one mindset: to understand the new strategy and gain an in-depth knowledge of the organizational structure and its implications for their roles.

One of the retreat’s takeaways was the revised revenue target of N25.2 trillion. Having closed 2024 with a record-breaking N21.6 trillion, expectations are high. But this is not just about pushing numbers. It is about creating a system that works for the Nigerian economy. The focus is on ensuring that taxation is not a burden but a tool for national development.

Alongside the new target, the retreat also saw the launch of the Standard Operating Procedures for FIRS field offices. These procedures outline clear policies, guidelines, and practices that everyone in the field will follow. The aim is to provide straightforward guidance, define each person’s job, close any policy information gaps, and ensure procedures are applied consistently. In short, there is no more guesswork at the agency. These changes are designed to solve many of the old problems and bring much-needed clarity and efficiency to the service delivery.

Every step taken under this new strategy aims to create a system that works for everyone and ensures that Nigeria’s progress is visible in our everyday lives. The work has already begun this year, 2025, and there is no turning back.

Here’s the big question: How can Nigerians support the Tax Boss’s vision? Nigerians can do their part by paying taxes on time and adequately. With simpler tax processes now available, engaging with the FIRS through the available channels to ask questions or share feedback can help improve the system and tackle any issues.

As everyone knows, many reforms and accomplishments were made last year thanks to Dr. Zacch’s initiative, team effort, and transformative leadership style. He has passed the target before teamwork and will undoubtedly do so again. His leadership is all about real change and guarantees. He is breaking barriers, simplifying processes, and ensuring that taxes become a tool for advancement. Nigeria is fortunate to have a leader ready to make a real difference.

The ball has been set rolling. The plans are in place, the leadership is focused, and the team is committed. Nigerians can expect a tax system that works for them, not one that causes frustration.

ArabinrinAderonke Atoyebi is the Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)