FIRS Management Exonerates Chairman, Nami Over Malicious Publications

By ABIODUN JIMOH

The Management of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has reiterated that there was no intention of entrenching nepotism and tribalism in service as being speculated in some quarters.

The present management led by Mr. Muhammad Nami stated this to bring to the attention of the general public and to state categorically that those making such insinuations are doing so from the figment of their imagination.

In an advertorial, it was noted that the attention of the FIRS Management has been drawn to malicious publications in some no less reputable media outfits such as Premium Times and PUNCH Newspaper dated 18th May, 2020, entitled ‘FIRS Chair ignores Buhari’s directive, retires nine directors’, which blatantly twisted facts to create the impression that nepotism and tribalism are being entrenched in FIRS.

The Management also noted: “With satisfaction subsequent spirited and well intentioned rejoinders by friends and well-wishers of the FIRS in a bid to state the true perspective of the matters arising from the said invidious publication.

“Following wide consultations, the FIRS Management wishes to bring to the attention of the general public that the present Management of FIRS led by Mr. Muhammad Nami has no intention of (and is not) entrenching nepotism and tribalism in FIRS.

“The Management therefore wishes to state categorically that those making such insinuations are doing so from the figment of their imagination. The main issues mischievously alleged in the publication are summarized as follows.

“That Muhammad Nami unlawfully retired nine Directors to pave way for his allies by relying on old Civil Service Rule which was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari via a circular No SH/COS/100/A/1462 dated 17th June, 2016 issued by the then Head of Service, and that the immediate past Chairman of FIRS upheld the order as no Director was retired during his administration on the basis of the old rule.

“That Muhammad Nami assumed office in November 2019; That the Service relied on Section 10.1a (iii) of the FIRS Human Resources Policies and Processes (HRPP) to retire the Directors while ignoring Section 1.8.2 of the same HRPP which deals with the effects of circulars and other amendments to HRPP.

“That after the retirement of the Directors, the Executive Chairman appointed Four (4) new Directors, which has caused disquiet among Senior Staff who were sidelined for the Contract staff. The publication asked ‘where is transparency, accountability, integrity and Federal Character in these appointments.”

However, for the purpose of clarity and avoidance of any doubt, the Management hereby put the record straight that Muhammed Nami did not unlawfully retire nine directors to pave the way for his allies. Adding that in the first place, the retirement of the directors was done in accordance with the rules and followed due process as it was approved by the Board.

“Secondly, on the issue of using old Civil Service Rule at the expense of the new rule, it must be noted that FIRS (the Service), was established pursuant to FIRS (Establishment) Act 2007, as a Public Service and not a Civil Service. There is a lot of difference between Civil Service and Public Service.

“Civil Service covers Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government without autonomous Status, while Public Service includes among others FIRS, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), with autonomous status and functional Board of Directors. As such the circular couldn’t have been binding on the Service.

“The FIRS did not disobey the new regulation suspending the eight (8) year tenure rule. Of course, it is easy to see that the previous management did not retire Directors because there was no Board in place, and so it operated solely thereby determined the rules to implement and those to disobey with a huge media support from