The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has condemned the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for sealing one of its offices in Abuja, describing the action as “malicious” and “unprofessional.”
In a statement shared via X (formerly Twitter), Aderonke Atoyebi, technical assistant on broadcast media to the FIRS executive chairman, accused the FCTA of deliberately targeting the agency without justification.
“It is highly unprofessional of the Wike-led FCTA to close our office, disrupting staff from performing their duties when we have done nothing wrong, especially during a crucial week as we prepare to sign the Tax Reform Bills. FCTA, you have erred gravely; FIRS owes you nothing,” Atoyebi asserted.
She further criticized the FCTA’s motives, suggesting an attempt to shift blame and damage the FIRS’s credibility.
“If you are looking for a fall guy, look elsewhere. We should not be your scapegoat when you know full well that the falsehoods you spread in the media and your malicious, illegal actions will harm our operations,” she said.
Atoyebi insisted that the FIRS has no outstanding rent obligations to the FCTA, emphasizing that all dues have been settled up to 2023.
“We have the evidence,” she emphasized.
She also warned that the disruption comes at a sensitive time for Nigeria’s tax system, as major reform legislation is nearing finalization, and that such interference could undermine both public trust and progress on critical fiscal policies.
Analysts have cautioned that tensions between federal agencies could impact service delivery and create broader institutional instability.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has indicated readiness to pass the harmonized tax reform bills by Tuesday, following the resolution of contentious provisions.
Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and leader of the House delegation for the harmonization exercise, James Faleke, confirmed the development via his official X account on Sunday.
He tweeted, “The Conference Committee set up by the House and the Senate on the Tax Reform Bills has successfully concluded its work. The joint committees thoroughly reviewed all sections, addressed grey areas in the four bills, examined each clause strategically, and resolved contentious issues.”
Earlier reports by PUNCH Online stated that the FCTA had sealed the FIRS office, along with an Access Bank branch and a Total petrol station in Zone 6, Wuse, Abuja, over alleged non-payment of ground rent spanning 34 years.
