NRS boss, Adedeji under fire over Nigerian economy comment

Nigerians have tackled the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, over his recent comment about critics of economic reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

DAILY POST reports that in a viral video, Adedeji questioned critics of Tinubu’s economic reforms about what they would have done differently.

“That is what I get worried about when I listen to some people about the economy and everything.

“Just ask them, what would they do differently? Mr President, I don’t want you to wonder. You have elevated the system from what they know and wonder,” Adedeji told President Tinubu.

Adedeji’s comment triggered reactions from Nigerians on X.

Reacting, a development professional and former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Joe Abah, described Adedeji’s comment as insensitive.

“If true, this is a deeply insensitive statement.

“But to answer the question of what I would have done differently, I can just look at the UK’s Andy Burnham, who is trying to tackle the cost of living.

“In just 19 days, he has removed the 5 percent VAT on domestic electricity (it is 7.5 percent in Nigeria); capped bus fares at £2 per ride by reimbursing private sector operators for the difference in real costs; pledged a 20 percent cut in business rates for pubs and clubs (an important part of British social life); maintained and adjusted Universal Credit to favour the poorest and most vulnerable.

“So, I would have used the increasing tax revenue to tackle the cost of living. That is what I would have done differently at my own level. Hope that helps,” he said on X on Saturday.

Similarly, a lawyer known as Vena Ikem wrote on X: “He should ask himself what all the millions of dollars he is spending mean to the tax he is collecting even from poor people. If karma truly fulfils, this man will get his just deserts in the land of the living. This arrogance is from getting away with stealing tax money.”

Also, Adekunle Oderinde wrote on X: “The entire convoy of Zacch Adedeji is more expensive and longer than the convoy of UK Prime Minister, yet he is talking about suffering Nigerians complaining about the effects of the policies of his principal, President Tinubu, who drives an expensive and long convoy on scarce resources.”