- President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr. Babatunde William Fowler as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
- This was contained in a statement made available to journalists by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.
- Adesina said the new FIRS boss would serve as Acting Executive Chairman of FIRS until his appointment was confirmed by the Senate.
- He replaces Samuel Ogungbesan as Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
- Mr Ogungbesan was appointed Acting FIRS Chairman by Goodluck Jonathan in March after former Chairman Kabiru Mashi’s tenure expired.
- Fowler was the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue from 2005 to 2014.
- He is credit for increasing tax payers in Lagos State from 2.5million in 2011 to 4.5million in 2014. Lagos State also collected an IGR of N276 billion in 2014 alone more than any other state in Nigeria
- Lagos State tax tactics is being replicated by most state in Nigeria and one expects to see an aggressive FIRS if his appointment is confirmed by the Senate.