The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) officially inaugurated a chapter for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Tuesday in Abuja, with President Davidson Alaribe urging members to uphold the high ethical standards synonymous with their profession.
During the inauguration ceremony, Alaribe emphasized the importance of the new chapter, highlighting that the FIRS is the largest employer of chartered accountants in Nigeria. He noted that among the 66,000 chartered accountants in the country, over 2,800 work within the FIRS, the highest number employed by any government agency.
Alaribe praised FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji for his leadership, which he credited with transforming the agency into a crucial entity for Nigeria’s economic growth by ensuring revenue generation for all three tiers of government to support major projects.
He promised ongoing support for the new chapter, encouraging its pioneering officers to actively involve members and lay a solid foundation for the group while enhancing its visibility.
Representing Adedeji at the event, Dr. Dick Irri, Coordinating Director of the Medium Taxpayers Group, urged the ICAN chapter leaders to maintain high ethical standards in their professional roles.
Adedeji, a Fellow of ICAN, expressed his commitment to the establishment of the chapter due to the vital roles chartered accountants play, especially within the FIRS. “ICAN is very dear to me. With nearly 3,000 ICAN members in FIRS, it’s evident that our members uphold the core values of ICAN and set a high standard for others,” he stated.
In her acceptance speech, the inaugural chairperson of the FIRS chapter, Dr. Josephine Onyia, expressed gratitude to Adedeji and FIRS management for their support. She emphasized the importance of financial integrity and the role of chartered accountants in promoting economic growth and trust within the business community.
“I am honored to be the pioneer chairman of the ICAN-FIRS chapter, which includes many dedicated chartered accountants committed to advancing our profession and enhancing revenue collection for national development,” she said, pledging to cultivate a culture of lifelong learning and professional development within the chapter.
The leadership team also includes Mrs. Adenike Adegoke as Vice-Chairperson, Abdurauf Aderemi as General Secretary, Mrs. Patricia Ofili as Treasurer, and Mr. Aduka Borr as Publicity Secretary, among others.