President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday replaced Babatunde Fowler with Muhammad Nami as chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity disclosed the appointment of Nami on Monday.
Shehu said that Nami’s nomination followed Buhari’s approval of the composition of a new FIRS board.
Mr Shehu explained that the appointment was, however, subject to Senate confirmation.
Shehu said the former FIRS Chairman, Babatunde Fowler term of office expired on 9th December 2019. ”Fowler was expected to, therefore, hand over to Nami the most senior director on the board.
”Therefore, Muhammad Nami would take charge of FIRS pending the Senate confirmation of the new board,” Shehu said.
“FIRS board is composed of a member representing each of the six geographical zones. And statutory representatives from a select number of ministries and government agencies.
“Mr Nami is a well-trained Tax, Accounting and Management professional with highly rated qualifications and professional practice. And licenses from relevant professional bodies.
”Nami has almost three decades of practical working experience in Auditing, Tax Management and Advisory. And Management services to clients in the banking, manufacturing, services and public sectors as well as non- profit organizations.
“He is an expert in rendering advisory support services to investors in respect of new business start-ups. And management of existing businesses.
Nami has also continuously rendered outsourced services to clients in trading, service and manufacturing sectors of the nation’s economy.
“Muhammad Nami attended Bayero University Kano and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology (1991). And a Masters of Business degree (2004) respectively.
‘Nami is a fellow of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Institute of Debt Recovery Practitioners of Nigeria. And Associate Member of Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.
“Mr Nami started his career with PFK in 1993. Nami rose to the position of a Senior Consultant in charge of Tax management and advisory services.
”Nami is currently the managing consultant of Manam Professional Services based in Kaduna, Abuja and Niger State.
“Mr Nami has served and is still serving, on many companies’ Board and Statutory Board Audit Committees. Muhammed Nami was appointed a member of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Stolen Assets in 2017 by Buhari.
“Muhammed Nami is married with children,” Shehu said.
Recall that Fowler had been queried in August by President Muhammadu Buhari over differentials in the budgeted collections. And the actual collections between 2015 and 2018 ostensibly.
Fowler was a childhood friend and classmate of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He was appointed by President Buhari on August 18, 2015.
Fowlers’ appointment was confirmed by the Senate on December 9 of the same year.
The challenge Muhammad Nami, will be to raise government’s revenue target to fund the 2020 budget and build infrastructure.
He is expected to oversee the collection of the new Value Added Tax (VAT) of 7.5 per cent which becomes effective in January.
