By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
A brewing conflict between two key federal institutions—the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)—has spilled into the public arena, raising concerns over inter-agency cooperation at a time Nigeria is preparing for sweeping tax reforms.
On Friday, the FIRS lashed out at the FCTA following the abrupt closure of one of its offices in Abuja, describing the move as a “malicious” and “baseless” attempt to frustrate its operations. The action, reportedly carried out under the directives of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has drawn sharp criticism from the tax agency, which insists it owes no rent arrears to the FCTA.
“It’s so unprofessional of the Wike-led FCTA to close our office, distracting staff going about their duties when we did nothing wrong,” said Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Executive Chairman, in a post on X. “Especially in a crucial week like this when we are looking forward to signing the Tax Reform Bills. FCTA, you goofed big time—FIRS isn’t owing you.”
She accused the FCTA of deliberately seeking a scapegoat to distract from its own internal issues. “If you are looking for a fall guy, please move further. We shouldn’t be your scapegoat when you know well that the lies you spread in the media and your malicious/illegal action will hurt our operations.”
The FIRS insists that its tenancy obligations have been met consistently for over two decades and says it has documentary evidence to prove that rent has been paid up to 2023.
The incident has sparked public interest, not just for its dramatic undertone, but for its potential implications on Nigeria’s fiscal trajectory. With the country on the verge of finalizing critical tax reform legislation, stakeholders worry that this face-off could weaken inter-agency trust and delay implementation of policies aimed at improving revenue generation.
“This is not the time for institutional grandstanding,” a fiscal policy analyst in Abuja said under anonymity. “The government should be focused on synergy, not score-settling.”
As tension brews, Nigerians are watching closely to see how President Bola Tinubu’s administration will manage internal disputes that risk undermining its economic agenda.