Buhari appoints Fowler to head FIRS

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed William Babatunde Fowler as executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Fowler was the chief executive officer/executive chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue from 2005 to 2014.

He had his higher education in the United States where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin and a master of business administration degree from the California State University.

Before joining the service of the Lagos state government, Fowler worked in the banking sector for about 20 years with long stints at Credit Lyonnais Nigeria Limited and Chartered Bank.

Under his leadership, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue reportedly achieved a sharp increase in internally generated revenue from an average of N3.6. billion per month in January 2006, to an average of about N20.5 billion per month in 2013.

Fowler, who has an honorary doctorate degree of the Irish International University, is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Business Management Association of the United Kingdom.

According to Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, he will serve as acting executive chairman of FIRS until his appointment is confirmed by the senate.

Fowler will take over from Samuel Ogungbesan, who was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March.