*’What Would You Have Done Differently?’ Nigerians Tackle FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji Over Comments On Tinubu’s Economic Reforms*

*….”Your arrogance is from getting away with stealing tax money”— X user slams Zacheus 

Nigerians have faulted the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, over his recent comments questioning critics of the economic reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a viral video, Adedeji asked critics of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies what alternatives they would have pursued.

“That is what I get worried about when I listen to some people about the economy and everything,” he said.

“Just ask them, what would they do differently? Mr President, I don’t want you to wonder. You have elevated the system from what they know,” Adedeji told President Tinubu.

The comment sparked widespread reactions on X, formerly Twitter, with many Nigerians describing it as insensitive amid the current cost of living crisis.

*’It Is Deeply Insensitive’ — Joe Abah*

Reacting, a development professional and former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Joe Abah, described Adedeji’s statement as insensitive.

“If true, this is a deeply insensitive statement,” Abah wrote on X on Saturday.

“But to answer the question of what I would have done differently, I can just look at the UK’s Andy Burnham, who is trying to tackle the cost of living.

“In just 19 days, he has removed the 5 percent VAT on domestic electricity — it is 7.5 percent in Nigeria; capped bus fares at £2 per ride by reimbursing private sector operators for the difference in real costs; pledged a 20 percent cut in business rates for pubs and clubs, an important part of British social life; and maintained and adjusted Universal Credit to favour the poorest and most vulnerable.

“So, I would have used the increasing tax revenue to tackle the cost of living. That is what I would have done differently at my own level. Hope that helps,” he added.

*Other Reactions*

A lawyer, Vena Ikem, also criticised the FIRS boss, questioning government spending.

“He should ask himself what all the millions of dollars he is spending mean to the tax he is collecting even from poor people. If karma truly fulfils, this man will get his just deserts in the land of the living. This arrogance is from getting away with stealing tax money,” she wrote.

Another X user, Adekunle Oderinde, faulted the cost of governance.

“The entire convoy of Zacch Adedeji is more expensive and longer than the convoy of the UK Prime Minister, yet he is talking about suffering Nigerians complaining about the effects of the policies of his principal, President Tinubu, who drives an expensive and long convoy on scarce resources,” he said.

The Tinubu administration has, since May 2023, implemented major economic reforms including fuel subsidy removal and forex unification, policies the government says are necessary for long-term growth but which have triggered high inflation and hardship.