The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kekere-Ekun, has warned the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to prioritize the transformation of existing infrastructure over the adoption of cutting-edge technological innovations.

She gave this advice on Monday at the opening ceremony of the High Impact Interactive Conference with Judges and Judges, organized by the Service in partnership with the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

She noted that while the conference is critical to building critical capacity and deepening our understanding of specific industry issues such as taxation, “it does not replace the responsibility of relevant departments to diligently carry out their responsibilities and, where necessary, make adjustments to their processes.” “

She went on to say, “I urge the Federal Tax Service to quickly transform its existing structures before attempting to implement cutting-edge technological innovations.”

Kekere-Ekun warned that “the rendering of a decision often depends on the diligence of the institution presenting the cases in court.”

The CJN noted that “it is becoming increasingly clear that alignment with digital innovation is no longer optional, but essential.”

She lamented that “Nigeria benefits from international structures. However, despite these advantages, significant gaps remain between global tax strategies and Nigeria’s domestic tax system, especially in the context of the digital economy. The purpose of this conference, therefore, is to explore ways to address these gaps while hampering the integrity of Nigeria’s domestic tax system.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Dr. Zach Adedeji, who was represented by Muhammad Lawal Abubakar, Coordinating Director, Services Support Unit, said that “for our tax system to be effective, it requires the unwavering support and integrity of our judicial system.”

Judiciary Adedeji said he “serves as the custodian of equity and fairness in our society. Your role in interpreting tax laws, resolving disputes, and enforcing compliance is critical to creating a climate of trust in our tax system.

“By upholding the rule of law and making fair decisions, you build trust among citizens and businesses alike, encouraging them to meet their tax obligations,” he told the assembled judges and judges.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the opening ceremony, Muhammad Lawal Abubakar confirmed that FIRS will achieve its target of N19.4 trillion this year.

He said: “We expect that by 2025 the government may decide to increase the target slightly. So we need to prepare.”

Because of this, “the conference is one such area that we are focusing on as we prepare for next year when so much will be affected, including new laws expected to come into force from January 2025.”

He then added: “The purpose of this conference is to enhance the role of the judiciary in the Nigerian tax system.”

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