Civil Groups Dismissed Attacks On FIRS Chairman To Step Aside
Two prominent civic organisations have sharply condemned what they describe as an orchestrated, politically motivated campaign to force the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacchaeus Adedeji, to step aside.
The Campaign for Democracy (CD) and the Southwest Unity Forum, in separate statements issued yesterday, accused unnamed power brokers of fueling a smear operation aimed at derailing ongoing tax reforms and undermining Nigeria’s economic stability.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, the Campaign for Democracy dismissed the demands for Adedeji’s removal as “baseless, malicious and politically sponsored.”
The group said the coalition calling for the FIRS chairman to step aside was “faceless” and unrepresentative of any credible national constituency, insisting that its claims were “fraudulent, deceptive and orchestrated by economic saboteurs violently opposed” to the agency’s reforms.
CD argued that Adedeji’s tenure has brought professionalism, modernisation and transparency to Nigeria’s tax administration, earning broad public support. The organisation warned that those attacking the FIRS chief are individuals threatened by rising efficiency and integrity in revenue collection.
It urged Nigerians to reject what it called a “reckless campaign of calumny” and pledged continued vigilance over all public office holders to ensure accountability and good governance.
Echoing the CD’s concerns, the Southwest Unity Forum issued an equally forceful statement warning against what it described as a “coordinated political witch-hunt” targeting the FIRS chairman.
Signed by Hon. (Dr.) Matthew Oyedokun, the Forum’s statement said the calls for Adedeji’s removal were “unfounded” and driven by persons threatened by reforms that are blocking leakages, reducing wastage and expanding the non-oil tax base.
The Forum described the allegations circulating in the media as a “classic smear tactic devoid of facts and engineered to intimidate a performing public servant.”
It noted that some groups that previously accused Adedeji of wrongdoing later retracted their claims and issued public apologies, demonstrating what it said was a pattern of fabricated scandals designed to erode public trust in reform-minded leaders.
According to the Forum, the push to oust the FIRS chairman at a time when reforms are gaining momentum amounts to “sabotage, pure and simple.”
Such destabilisation, it argued, threatens investor confidence and signals that Nigeria punishes performance while rewarding conspiracy.
Youth groups and civic organisations, it added, have similarly dismissed the attacks as “futile blackmail” orchestrated by “faceless opportunists.”
Both organisations warned that efforts to undermine the FIRS leadership risk dragging Nigeria backward at a critical moment for economic repositioning.
They urged the Federal Government to remain resolute, insisting that accountability must be based on verifiable evidence rather than “fabricated petitions, sponsored protests or media hysteria.”
Reaffirming support for Adedeji, the Southwest Unity Forum praised him as a “courageous reformist” working for national interest rather than for political godfathers.
CD similarly emphasised that Nigeria’s economic transformation must not be derailed by those who profit from systemic decay.
Despite the escalating controversy, both groups said their commitment to monitoring public institutions remains firm, stressing that while reformers must be protected from politically driven attacks, transparency and good governance remain paramount.
By Winifred Bosa
