The Federal Inland Revenue Service has inaugurated its first Research Day, a milestone initiative aimed at making evidence-based decision-making the backbone of Nigeria’s tax administration. The gathering in Abuja drew scholars, policymakers, tax professionals, and internal stakeholders, all united by a shared goal of using credible research to strengthen the country’s tax system and improve economic governance.
The Executive Chairman of the Service described the occasion as a bold declaration that research is not an optional extra but a core driver of effective tax administration. He warned that without credible data, policies risk being shaped in the dark, while with it, reforms can be guided towards lasting impact. He highlighted the complexity of Nigeria’s economic landscape, stressing that policy reforms and technological innovations must be anchored on rigorous analysis if they are to produce meaningful change. Every well-researched question, he said, moves the nation closer to economic prosperity.
He urged every department within the Service to integrate research findings into planning and operations. He also called for deeper partnerships with universities, think tanks, and development organisations to bridge the gap between academic insight and practical tax solutions.
Central to the event was the unveiling of three major initiatives. The first, the FIRS Research Policy Document, lays out high standards for ethics, methodology, and transparency in research. The second, the Tax Revenue Statistical Bulletin, captures tax data trends from 1970 to 2022, offering an authoritative reference for policymakers, researchers, and analysts. The third, Volume 4 of the FIRS Journal of Tax Studies, provides a peer-reviewed platform for contributions from FIRS staff, academics, and industry experts. To widen access, a digital version of the Journal ( ( (www.fjts.online) was also launched in partnership with the Technology Department.
The Director of the Research and Statistics Department described the day as the beginning of a cultural shift within the Service. She explained that the new Research Policy safeguards intellectual property, ensures methodological integrity, and encourages a Service-wide commitment to inquiry. She emphasised that in modern tax administration, reliable data is not a luxury but a necessity, and called for more collaboration across departments to embed research into every level of decision-making.
In a weekend statement, the Special Adviser on Communications and Advocacy to the Executive Chairman said the launch of Research Day represents a turning point for the Service. He described it as an effort anchored in data, powered by inquiry, and dedicated to building a tax administration system that is smarter, more transparent, and more responsive to Nigeria’s development needs.
By institutionalising research as a permanent feature of its operations, the Service aims to not only improve revenue generation but also contribute to broader economic stability. Analysts note that such reforms, if sustained, could have a ripple effect on the business environment, investor confidence, and the capacity of government to deliver public services. In an economy where tax revenue is a key driver of development, the message from the inaugural Research Day was clear—credible data and knowledge-driven reforms are no longer optional; they are essential to Nigeria’s future.
