ABUJA, NIGERIA — In a surprising and ironic twist, Nigeria’s tax collection agency, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is accused of not paying taxes, as reported from Abuja. On Monday, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) shut down the FIRS office in Zone 5, Abuja, because the agency failed to pay ground tax for 25 years, shocking many Nigerians.
FCTA’s Department of Development Control led the action early Monday, canceling the land title and locking the office with official seals. The FIRS, famous for its strong campaigns against people who skip taxes and its bold TV ads about paying taxes, now faces its own criticism, which may hurt its reputation.
The agency says high tax rates caused its failure to pay and asks the government to lower taxes to something it can manage. This news worries Nigerians, with many asking, “If FIRS can skip taxes, what chance do regular people have?” This event highlights a deep irony, making people doubt the fairness of Nigeria’s tax system.
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