Senate confirms Zaccheus Adedeji as FIRS chair

The senate has confirmed Zaccheus Adedeji as the substantive chair of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The upper legislative chamber confirmed Adedeji on Tuesday after he was screened by the committee of the whole in the red chamber.

In September, President Bola Tinubu appointed him to take charge of the tax agency in an acting capacity after directing Muhammad Nami to proceed on a three-month pre-retirement leave.

During the screening exercise, Adedeji got more accolades than questions from the senators.

Fielding a question from Ali Ndume, chief whip of the senate, the FIRS chair said the national identification number (NIN) could be used for effective and efficient taxation.

“[We will] develop the data to make the decisions,” he said.

“If NIN is tied to Rolls Royce or Bentley you will tell us who gifted you. You can’t have a Bentley and have a tax clearance of N100,000.”

Ifeanyi Uba, senator representing Anambra south, said Adedeji is competent for the job.

“I met in Havard and he led the class in Havard. He has led reforms. What are we going to ask him? He should take a bow and go,” Uba said.

On his part, Sunday Katung, senator representing Kaduna south, said: “We interacted with him during our retreat. He is sound. He should be allowed to take a bow and go.”

Also speaking, Asuquo Ekpenyong, senator representing Cross River south, said FIRS has been doing well since he took charge of it.