•Set to collate 1m votes of confidence for Adedeji
•Write Speaker, House of Reps to caution member Ikenga, others against blackmail
•Say ongoing tax reforms worthy of commendation not condemnation
By Jibrin Ndanusa and Tony Ochela, Abuja
A coalition of 72 Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, has risen in stout defence of the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, dismissing as baseless and politically-motivated the recent call for his removal over alleged unconstitutional practices.
In a strongly worded statement while addressing the media over the weekend, the coalition accused a small group of politicians and activists, led by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency, of orchestrating what it described as a “malicious blackmail campaign” aimed at undermining the FIRS boss and destabilising Nigeria’s revenue administration system.
The groups announced that they are mobilising one million signatures of confidence for Dr. Adedeji in order to counter what they termed an “ill-conceived and unpatriotic vote-of-no-confidence drive” initiated by Ugochinyere and his allies.
The coalition noted that the allegations levelled by Ugochinyere and a handful of groups, claiming purported constitutional breaches, revenue infractions and involvement in unauthorised projects, were not only unsubstantiated but deliberately structured to mislead the public.
According to the statement, the January-bound “step-down campaign” announced by Ugochinyere, including plans to unveil a petition on December 15, “lacks every element of credibility” and is aimed at “creating public hysteria where none exists”.
The lawmaker and his collaborators had alleged that Dr. Adedeji misled the President into setting up an outfit not recognised by law, approved tax waivers indiscriminately, and presided over inflated projects funded through an infrastructure initiative they claimed lacked parliamentary approval. They further demanded a forensic audit of FIRS operations and accounts of the RHIDF project.
But the 72 CSOs countered that no evidence had been presented to back any of the claims, stressing that FIRS under Adedeji has enjoyed one of its most transparent and reform-driven eras. The agency, they argued, has not only adhered to statutory processes but has significantly improved tax collection efficiency, digital compliance systems and institutional accountability.
Concerned by what they described as “abuse of parliamentary privilege”, the coalition disclosed that a formal petition has been dispatched to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, urging him to caution Ugochinyere and his collaborators.
They argued that the lawmaker’s persistent media outings, accusatory press conferences and threats of mass mobilisation amount to an attempt to weaponise legislative influence for political chicanery.
The CSOs warned that the trend, if unchecked, could set a dangerous precedent in which public institutions and their leaders become easy targets of orchestrated pressure campaigns
The coalition stated emphatically that Dr. Adedeji has not committed any constitutional, administrative or financial infraction. Instead, they praised his leadership for strengthening Nigeria’s tax base, restoring public confidence in revenue administration and championing reforms aligned with global best practices.
They insisted that any call for a forensic audit must be grounded on credible petitions, not “politically motivated fabrications designed for media circulation”.
To demonstrate their support, the coalition announced it is collating one million public endorsements to reaffirm confidence in the FIRS chairman’s leadership.
The 72 CSOs that signed the coalition’s statement include, the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Citizens Watch for Good Governance, Nigerian Coalition Against Corruption and Waste, Integrity Monitors Network, Accountability and Democratic Values Initiative, Due Process Advocacy Network, National Alliance for Ethical Leadership, and several regional anti-corruption, and several other good governance groups.
While acknowledging the importance of oversight in public institutions, the coalition urged Nigerians to resist politically driven distractions capable of derailing ongoing revenue reforms.
They further encouraged the National Assembly to prioritise fact-finding, objectivity and national interest above sensationalism or personal vendettas.
