Taiwo Oyedele: No Plan to Engage Alpha Beta for Tax Collection
Presidential tax reform committee chairman emphasises efficiency of existing infrastructure and comprehensive stakeholder consultation
In a move to streamline Nigeria’s tax collection process, Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on tax policy and fiscal reforms, has categorically ruled out the use of external consultants like Alpha-Beta for revenue collection. Speaking during a Channels Television town hall meeting on tax reform bills, Oyedele strongly criticized the practice of outsourcing tax collection, describing it as a significant economic challenge.
“I wanted to put language in the law that says no government should use a consultant to collect tax. We think that is one of the biggest problems in our economy today,” Oyedele declared, providing absolute clarity on the government’s stance. He confirmed with certainty that there are no plans to engage any consultants for tax collection.
The committee’s approach leverages the existing infrastructure of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), particularly its TaxPro Max platform. Minor algorithmic adjustments will enable more precise tracking of value-added tax (VAT) returns, including the ability to identify the state of origin for corporate tax filings from major corporations like MTN and Dangote Group.
Addressing concerns about the reform process, Oyedele emphasized the extensive consultation undertaken with state stakeholders. The committee engaged with:
- Governors’ Forum
- National Economic Council
- Finance commissioners from all 36 states
- Heads of internal revenue services from states and Federal Capital Territory
“We consulted. We had one session with the governors’ forum… We had two sessions with the national economic council. We had almost a whole day with the finance commissioners from all over Nigeria,” Oyedele explained.
The reform initiative includes four proposed bills:
- Nigeria Tax Bill
- Tax Administration Bill
- Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill
- Repeal and replacement of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) establishment law
President Bola Tinubu submitted these bills to the National Assembly on October 3, signaling a new approach to tax administration and revenue management.
Oyedele highlighted the Lagos State governor’s proactive engagement, noting they even established a joint committee to work through detailed reforms over six months. He stressed the committee’s continued openness to dialogue and consultation.
