FIRS Chairman’s office renovation justifiable, don’t listen to cheap blackmail – Source
By Tunde Opalana
A source within the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has described as cheap blackmail a claim that the chairman, Mr. Zacc Adedeji has approved renovation of an office he wished to occupy without recourse to due process of contract award.
There was an allegation that the chairman approved that a sum of N447 million be committed to the renovation of an office used by a former chairman of the Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler between 2015 and 2019.
The Daily Times learnt that Mr. Adedeji who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in September last year has been occupying the office used by the immediate Chairman Mr. Muhammed Nami but decided a more spacious office, hence his decision to relocate from No 15 Sokode Crescent to No 20 Sokode Crescent.
It was alleged that a sum of N447 million was unilaterally approved by the chairman without recourse to “bill of quantity, contract bidding and board approval” for the renovation of the office at No 20 used by Mr. Fowler.
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It was claimed that the spending drew the anger of some staff that considered such spending outrageous at such an austere period in the nation’s economy.
The allegation further had it that the whereabout of marble decoration and fittings removed from the office under renovation are unknown, which is considered an economic waste.
Reacting to the allegations, an inside source anonymously told the Daily Times that all are unfounded and remain in the realm of falsehood.
The source acknowledged the renovation being carried out at No 20 which was the office formerly used by Mr. Fowler.
He, however faulted an allegation that Mr. Adedeji awarded a contract (though he did not mention the cost), unilaterally.
He said “does that not sound ridiculous? How reasonable does it sound to claim that money would be released for such renovation in an internationally exposed organization like FIRS without going through the tender board.
“Those making such spurious allegation should be civil enough to know that due process has to be followed. It has to follow the bureaucracy in public service”.
He challenged anyone or group of persons behind the allegation to come out publicly with verifiable documents to back their claims.
Justifying the need for a relocation of office, the insider source said the chairman’s office located in No 15 Sokode Crescent has become too small for staff and aides of the current chairman, Mr Adedeji, hence the need to look for a more spacious office accomodations within the establishment.
“It will interest you to know that some of the aides of the new chairman float during working hours in other offices with a few of them even managing at FIRS clinic.
“The office on No 20 is not a new apartment but an existing one but was last used four years ago by Mr. Fowler. Withing the same compound the Service has its Legal Department and other units.
“So, this is just an expansion to accommodate more staff and aides and there are staff of other departments on other floors of the chairman’s renovated office”, he said.
The source discarded the allegation as ploy to distract Mr. Adedeji from the enormous assignment given him by President Tinubu.
President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Mr. Zacch Adedeji in acting capacity as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in September 14, 2023, following the direction that the erstwhile chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami proceed on a 3 months pre- retirement leave, as provisioned by Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243, leading to his eventual retirement from service on December 8, 2023.
The appointment of Mr. Adedeji as the substantive Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service for a term of four (4) years in the first instance, was subsequently confirmed by the Senate on October 31, 2023.
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