The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has condemned the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA) for shutting down one of its offices in Abuja, describing the action as “malicious” and “unprofessional.”
The revenue agency in a statement released via X (formerly Twitter) through Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Executive Chairman, accused the FCTA of unfairly targeting the agency.
“It is highly unprofessional of the Wike-led FCTA to close our office, disrupting staff from performing their duties when we have done nothing wrong, especially during a crucial week as we prepare to sign the Tax Reform Bills. FCTA, you have erred gravely; FIRS owes you nothing,” Atoyebi asserted.
She further accused the FCTA of attempting to use FIRS as a scapegoat, adding, “If you are looking for a fall guy, look elsewhere. We should not be your scapegoat when you know full well that the falsehoods you spread in the media and your malicious, illegal actions will harm our operations.”
Atoyebi maintained that the agency has no outstanding rent payments to the FCTA for the past 25 years and insisted that all obligations had been settled up to 2023.
“We have the evidence,” she emphasised, pushing back against claims of indebtedness.
Atoyebi, who said the incident comes at a critical juncture for Nigeria’s tax system, with major reform legislation expected to be finalised soon, also warned that such disruptions could undermine public confidence and delay the implementation of key fiscal policies.
