In a bold stride towards self-sufficiency and institutional reform, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has unveiled plans to fill 80% of its total workforce with internally trained and recruited staff by the end of the current Executive Chairman's tenure. The strategic shift, described as transformative, is designed to reduce the agency’s historical dependence on external consultants and contractors—streamlining operations, deepening institutional knowledge, and cutting costs in the long term.
Disclosing this in a press statement released on Wednesday, the Special Adviser on Communications to the Executive Chairman, Mr. Collins Omokaro, stated that the move forms a cornerstone of the FIRS 2025 Strategic Roadmap. The roadmap itself is anchored on three pivotal pillars—people, innovation, and operational excellence—all of which converge in this human capital development initiative.
According to Omokaro, “We are positioning FIRS as a model public institution where internal talent is groomed, empowered, and elevated. This 80% in-house staffing target is not just a figure, it is a statement of intent—one that underscores our belief in our people and the value of institutional continuity.”
The plan involves a robust merit-based recruitment system, comprehensive staff training programs, and leadership development initiatives targeted at building a pipeline of skilled professionals who understand the culture, history, and objectives of the FIRS. This, the agency believes, will translate into improved taxpayer services, faster decision-making, and more consistent policy enforcement.
In a bid to make the process transparent and participatory, FIRS has also launched a new multimedia campaign tagged ‘Work With Us’, a video series aimed at demystifying the recruitment process and offering insight into what it means to build a career with the agency. The initiative hopes to attract a new generation of passionate Nigerians eager to contribute to the nation's fiscal growth and revenue collection ecosystem.
The FIRS under the leadership of its Executive Chairman has been on a steady path of reform, modernization, and digital innovation, all aimed at aligning the agency’s internal structure with its expanding mandate. This new workforce realignment complements earlier efforts to digitize tax processes, improve data analytics, and expand taxpayer education and engagement.
Analysts believe the decision to rely more heavily on in-house capacity is both timely and strategic, especially in the current economic climate where cost-effectiveness and institutional integrity are paramount.
As the 2025 target year draws near, stakeholders and industry watchers will be keenly observing how this internal workforce agenda translates into on-ground impact—particularly in service delivery, transparency, and overall efficiency of Nigeria’s foremost tax authority.