Renowned human rights activist and former Senator Shehu Sani has lent his voice to the ongoing legislative discussions surrounding the rebranding of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). In a bold endorsement shared on his official X handle, Sani hailed the Executive Bill before the National Assembly seeking to change the name of FIRS to the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) as a timely and strategic move, one that reflects the agency’s expanding role in national economic affairs.
According to Sani, this name change isn’t merely cosmetic but carries significant implications for the future of revenue collection in Nigeria. “The proposed name change acknowledges the broader statutory responsibilities and duties the agency now shoulders,” he wrote, emphasizing that the rebranding better aligns with the evolving functions of the organization. The FIRS, initially conceived as an entity focused primarily on tax collection, has seen its mandate grow over the years to encompass a wide range of revenue generation activities crucial to Nigeria’s financial stability.
Sani’s support for the bill reflects the broader sentiment among financial experts and lawmakers who believe that the agency’s expanded responsibilities demand a new identity that captures its comprehensive role in driving economic growth and fiscal accountability.
The proposed Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) will not only handle tax collection but is also expected to oversee other critical revenue streams for the government, ranging from non-tax revenue sources to regulatory compliance across various sectors. This shift is seen as part of broader reforms aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s revenue infrastructure and improving efficiency in the face of mounting economic challenges.
Political observers have noted that Sani’s endorsement lends significant weight to the bill, given his track record as an outspoken advocate for transparency and good governance. His backing signals that the proposed change is more than a bureaucratic adjustment—it’s an essential step toward reimagining how Nigeria manages its internal resources and positions itself for sustainable financial growth.
The renaming, if passed into law, is expected to come with substantial reforms that will improve the agency’s ability to streamline processes, increase compliance, and foster a more robust revenue collection framework that can support the government’s ambitious development goals.
As the bill progresses through the National Assembly, Sani’s endorsement is likely to galvanize further debate, as stakeholders across various sectors consider the long-term impacts of the transformation. Whether or not the rebranding of FIRS into the Nigeria Revenue Service is the answer to Nigeria’s revenue challenges, one thing is clear: the conversation is reshaping how the country thinks about its fiscal future.
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