FIRS Nears Another Record as Adedeji Leads Agency to Surpass 2025 Revenue Target

With two months left in 2025, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) under its Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, is on track to exceed its annual revenue goal once again. The agency set a target of ₦25.2 trillion for the year, which is ₦3.6 trillion higher than the ₦21.6 trillion generated in 2024.

Between January and September 2025, FIRS collected ₦22.59 trillion in total revenue, leaving only ₦2.64 trillion to meet the year’s goal. This figure, averaging ₦2.51 trillion per month, shows that the agency could surpass the ₦25.2 trillion target by over ₦4 trillion before the year ends.

From the nine-month report, oil revenue amounted to ₦5.29 trillion, representing 98 percent of the target, while non-oil revenue contributed ₦17.3 trillion, accounting for 128 percent of its projection and 76 percent of total collections.

Since Adedeji assumed office, the FIRS has continued to improve revenue generation and modernize its operations through reforms that focus on staff development, technology adoption, and improved infrastructure. These efforts are part of a broader plan to build a more efficient, transparent, and technology-driven tax system capable of meeting Nigeria’s growing fiscal needs.

Adedeji had earlier set out a plan anchored on three key areas—capacity building, technology, and infrastructure improvement—to sustain the momentum recorded in 2023 and 2024. The 2024 performance, which exceeded expectations, was seen as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s tax administration. The same energy has continued into 2025, showing steady growth in both oil and non-oil tax collections.

He has also been preparing the agency for a transition to the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which will officially begin operations on January 1, 2026. This change will expand the agency’s role to include non-tax revenue collection from bodies such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Several projects have contributed to the progress made so far, including the National Single Window initiative aimed at streamlining trade and tax operations, and the e-invoicing system designed to improve transparency and digital integration in revenue collection.

Under Adedeji’s leadership, FIRS has continued to collaborate with the judiciary to ensure fair and timely resolution of tax disputes. The agency maintains that clear judicial interpretations of tax laws help build public confidence and promote compliance among taxpayers.

As 2025 draws to a close, the FIRS’s performance—driven by reforms, digital tools, and strong administrative strategies—has positioned it to achieve yet another record-breaking year. With total collections projected to cross ₦29 trillion, Dr. Zacch Adedeji’s leadership continues to shape the country’s revenue landscape, earning him renewed recognition as Nigeria’s “Zaccheus the Tax Collector.”