…As Fowler’s Pleading Was Too Little, Too Late
The presidency might not have disclosed reasons as to why the nation’s Chief Tax Administrator, Mr. Babatunde Fowler failed to get a reappointment following the expiration of his tenure in office on Monday, 9th December, however, the decision to drop Fowler has been mounting for a while.
By announcing on Monday, the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Nami as the new Executive Chairman of the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS), President Muhammadu Buhari made it clear that he would not renew Fowler’s appointment who is an ally of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, having been classmates during their college years at the Igbobi College in Lagos.
But it goes beyond the Monday’s announcement as President Buhari had since been signalling the action.
The New Diplomat recalls that on August 8, 2019, the Presidency queried Fowler over tax revenue figures since 2015.
In the query signed by the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, Buhari told Fowler: “Accordingly, you are kindly invited to submit a comprehensive variance analysis explaining the reasons for the variances between the budgeted collections and actual collections for each main tax item for each of the years 2015 to 2018.”
Also, while delivering the 2019 Independence Day speech, President Buhari had fired a salvo hinting on the eventuality when he said: “Our revenue-generating and reporting agencies will come under much greater scrutiny, going forward, as the new performance management framework will reward exceptional revenue performance, while severe consequences will attend failures to achieve agreed revenue targets.”
Though, the FIRS under Fowler was able to raise the tax revenue from N3.7 trillion in 2015 to N5.3 trillion in 2018, the agency has not been able to meet the yearly target in terms of actual collection. For instance, in 2018, the revenue projection was N6.7 trillion but the actual collection was put at N5.3 trillion by the agency, something the presidency has been banking on.
But beyond the revenue shortfalls, the dropping of Fowler, who was nominated by a National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to head the FIRS during the roller coaster year of 2015 could have dealt another blow to the Tinubu’s APC camp in the Southwest, a source said.
According to him, a lot of top political players in 2023 power play are viewing this action and the sacking of 35 officials working under the supervision of the Vice President among other measures as dwindling fortunes for Osinbajo and Tinubu, even though Fowler’s FIRS has been failing to meet the revenue threshold. “Four years is now in the bags for Buhari and now everything is being targeted towards the search for Buhari’s successor. Perhaps, the failure to reappoint him might be part of the larger 2023 politics,” the source said.
Tinubu and Osinbajo who have been reportedly trying to stitch together their Godfather–Godson relationship in recent months have been rumoured to be priming themselves for the 2023 presidency.
In a letter seen by The New Diplomat and addressed to Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha on Monday, Fowler made a last minute case to the President to reappoint him, but it either came too late or amounted to nought as the curtain had finally fell on his tenure in office.
The letter reads in part: “I wish to present myself for reappointment for a second term. This is consistent with the provisions of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007 and would grant me the opportunity to consolidate and build on the achievements we have recorded in the past four years.
“Please find attached the highlights of my achievements during my first tenure in office.
“I would like to put on record my gratitude to Mr. President for the opportunity to serve the nation.
“I am also thankful for your support in the course of the discharge of my duties. Please accept as always, the assurance of my highest regards,” Fowler wrote.
As a career tax administrator, Fowler rose through the ranks at the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS)from 2005 to 2013. To his credit, the Lagos tax revenue ballooned from N3.6 billion a month in 2006 to one that would average over N20.5 billion per month in 2014 before his higher calling.
Fowler, while handing over to the Coordinating Director Domestic Taxes Group, Abiodun Aina, to continue to steady the ship of the FIRS till a new board is inaugurated thanked President Buhari for allowing him to serve the country. He also stated that serving a second term in office is not automatic.
“There is nothing automatic about having a second term. Some of you might say it’s a big surprise. It is a privileged to serve one’s country. And if you have the privilege of serving your country for one term and you believe you have done your best, you have to thank God for that.
“We have the opportunity to show the world that Nigeria has a lot to offer. It was during this period that we had a top Director, representing Nigeria and the world at the OECD. It was within this period that Nigeria, for the first time chaired ATAF (African Tax Administration Forum), for two years running.
“It was within this period that Nigeria through your support, was appointed as the 1st Vice Chairman of the United Nations Committee of Tax Experts. So we have a lot going for us,” Fowler said.
