Goodbye FIRS, Hello NRS — FG Begins Massive Agency Restructuring Ahead of Jan 1 Deadline

ABUJA — The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has officially commenced its transition into the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), signaling the end of an era for the nation’s tax authority and the beginning of a sweeping overhaul mandated by the newly passed Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.

While the name change officially takes full legal effect on January 1, 2026, iTAX.ng can confirm that significant internal restructuring is already underway at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

The “Coordinating Director” Era is Over

In a move to align with the new organogram prescribed by the Act, the title of “Coordinating Director” — a top-tier rank that has existed within the FIRS leadership structure for years — is being scrapped.

Sources familiar with the transition confirmed to iTAX.ng today that these senior roles are being retitled as “Executive Directors.” This is not merely a change in nomenclature but a structural shift designed to give the agency a more corporate, efficiency-driven leadership model similar to private sector conglomerates.

“The restructuring is going on well,” a senior official at the agency told our correspondent under the condition of anonymity. “We now have Executive Directors replacing those hitherto known and addressed as Coordinating Directors. From top to bottom, everyone is ready and eagerly awaiting January 1 when we will be officially known as the NRS.”

Consolidation of Departments

Beyond the leadership titles, a massive consolidation of units is taking place. The new Act mandates the NRS to be a lean, unified body capable of collecting all revenues accruing to the Federal Government — not just taxes.

To handle this expanded mandate, several fragmented departments are being merged. The goal is to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that previously slowed down decision-making between the “Tax Operations” and “Enforcement” units.

“Some departments and units are being restructured and consolidated to fit the shape and form of the new laws,” the source added. “It is a complete re-engineering of the tax engine.”

Why the Change?

The transition from FIRS to NRS is the centerpiece of the Federal Government’s 2025 fiscal reform agenda. The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act aims to cure a long-standing defect in Nigeria’s fiscal architecture: the lack of a single, central body accountable for all government income.

Under the old FIRS Act, the agency was primarily a “tax” collector. Under the new NRS Act, the agency becomes the sole revenue authority, with powers to assess, collect, and account for both tax and non-tax revenues (such as levies, fees, and fines) that were previously scattered across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

What Happens Next?

As the January 1, 2026 deadline approaches, taxpayers should expect:

• New Branding: Physical signage, letterheads, and digital portals (TaxPro Max) will likely reflect the “NRS” identity by the new year.
• Unified Notices: Expect to see consolidated demand notices that may include other federal levies previously collected separately.
• No Disruption: Chairman Zacch Adedeji has assured stakeholders that the transition will be seamless, with existing Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) remaining valid.

The FIRS you knew is changing. Come 2026, the Nigeria Revenue Service will emerge not just with a new name, but with broader powers and a new “Executive” structure designed to aggressively close the nation’s revenue gaps.