Former FIRS Boss Omoigui-Okauru Quadrupled Government Revenue

The former Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru had an illustrious career serving her country from her appointment in 2004, until her recent retirement.

Speaking on the FIRS’s accomplishments under her regime yesterday in Abuja, the newly retired civil servant unleashed highly impressive statistics concerning the performance matrix of her tenure.

According to her, “With respect to our core mandate of tax collection, tax revenue grew astronomically from slightly below N1.2 trillion (about $7.9billion) in 2004, to over N4.6 trillion (over $30billion) in 2011 (over four times the collection figure of 2004). This represents growth in both oil and non-oil revenues”.

The revenue collected rose from N163.3 billion for non-oil taxes and N407.1 billion for oil taxes in 2001 to N1.557.8 trillion non-oil and N3.070.59 trillion oil taxes 11 years after in 2011.

In her remarks, she called for support for her successor and described her years in service.

“I have always regarded this journey as a relay in which my goal was to use my best effort to run my segment of the race. As I hand over the baton, I encourage you to continue the race and surpass all that has previously been achieved. I urge support for the Acting Executive Chairman, Alhaji Kabir Muhammad Mashi,” whom she described as an experienced and distinguished public servant.

“Never forget that this is a team sport and that the strength of the institution is in the strength of the team,” she added.