James Emejo in Abuja
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has stressed that Nigeria’s complex economic realities demand that policy reforms and technological innovations be anchored on credible data and rigorous analysis.
Adedeji said this when he hosted FIRS’s inaugural Research Day, a milestone event aimed at embedding research-driven decision-making into Nigeria’s tax administration.
The event brought together internal stakeholders, scholars, policymakers, and tax professionals to unveil a set of knowledge products designed to boost the country’s tax system and economic governance.
Speaking at the event, Adedeji described Research Day as “a bold statement that research matters in tax administration,” adding 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,” he said.
The FIRS boss also urged all departments to integrate research findings into their planning and execution, while calling for sustained collaboration with the academic and development community “to strengthen the bridge between theory and practice.”
At the heart of the occasion were the unveilings of three key initiatives: FIRS Research Policy Document, which sets high ethical, methodological, and transparency standards for research within the Service.
Others include: Tax Revenue Statistical Bulletin, an authoritative publication documenting tax data trends from 1970 to 2022, intended as a critical resource for economic analysis and policy-making; and Volume 4 of the FIRS Journal of Tax Studies (FJTS), a peer-reviewed platform featuring contributions from FIRS staff, academics, and industry experts. To expand accessibility, the FJTS digital platform (www.fjts.online) was also launched in collaboration with the Technology Department.
Director of the Research and Statistics Department, Halima M. Shehu, described the day as “a new beginning, not just a commemoration.”
She said the Research Policy was designed to safeguard intellectual property, maintain methodological integrity, and foster a culture of inquiry across the Service. “Research and reliable data are not optional—they are essential,” she noted, urging more interdepartmental cooperation.
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.”
