ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has emphasised that Nigeria’s complex economic realities require policy reforms and technological innovations to be grounded in credible data and rigorous analysis.
He made the remark while hosting the agency’s inaugural Research Day, a landmark event aimed at embedding research-driven decision-making into the country’s tax administration.
The gathering brought together FIRS staff, academics, policymakers, and tax professionals to unveil a suite of knowledge products designed to strengthen Nigeria’s tax system and economic governance.
Describing the initiative as “a bold statement that research matters in tax administration,” Adedeji warned that “without research, we risk working in the dark; with it, we shine a light on the path ahead. Every question we ask, every data point we analyze, and every policy we shape brings Nigeria closer to prosperity.”
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He called on all departments to integrate research findings into their operations and urged sustained collaboration with academia and development partners to strengthen the bridge between theory and practice.
The event featured the unveiling of three major initiatives: the FIRS Research Policy Document, which sets high ethical, methodological, and transparency standards for research within the agency; the Tax Revenue Statistical Bulletin, an authoritative record of tax data trends from 1970 to 2022 intended as a vital resource for economic analysis and policymaking; and Volume 4 of the FIRS Journal of Tax Studies (FJTS), a peer-reviewed publication featuring contributions from FIRS staff, academics, and industry experts. To improve accessibility, the FJTS digital platform (www.fjts.online) was also launched in partnership with the Technology Department.
Director of the Research and Statistics Department, Halima M. Shehu, described the occasion as “a new beginning, not just a commemoration.” She explained that the Research Policy was crafted to safeguard intellectual property, uphold methodological integrity, and promote a culture of inquiry across the Service. “Research and reliable data are not optional—they are essential,” she said, calling for stronger interdepartmental collaboration.
In a statement issued at the weekend, Special Adviser on Communications and Advocacy to the Executive Chairman, Collins Omokaro, said: “As the FIRS charts a bold path forward, the 2025 Research Day stands as a defining moment anchored in data, powered by inquiry, and committed to building a smarter, more accountable, and more innovative tax administration system for Nigeria.”