FIRS Blasts FCTA Over Abuja Office Closure, Denies Owing Ground Rent
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has publicly criticized the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for sealing one of its offices in Abuja, describing the move as “malicious” and “unprofessional.”
In a statement shared via X (formerly Twitter), Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Executive Chairman, accused the FCTA, under Minister Nyesom Wike’s leadership, of unfairly targeting the agency.
“It’s so unprofessional of the Wike-led FCTA to close our office, distracting staff going about their duties when we did nothing wrong,” Atoyebi stated. “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 further alleged that the FCTA was attempting to make FIRS a scapegoat for unrelated issues. “If you are looking for a fall guy, please move further,” she said. “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.”
FIRS reaffirmed that it has no outstanding ground rent debts, stating that all payments have been duly made up to the year 2023, covering the past 25 years.