FIRS job scandal: 349 workers secretly employed by Tunde Fowler

– Nepotism? The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) secretly employed 3.489  new workers

– Journalist investigation has revealed hidden sides of the employment to the government agency

Sahara Reporters has uncovered one more secret employment scheme used by the Federal Inland Revenue Service officials.

According to the documents obtained by the journalist, the government agency headed by Mr. Babatunde Fowler has recently hired 3.489 new staff without due process.

The national media outlet claims that the recruitment exercise was not preceded by a public advertisement of vacancies to be filled and approval by the Federal Character Commission as the service rules stipulate.

READ ALSO: FIRS to recruit 1.000 new tax collectors

The newly employed workers were reportedly inducted in Abuja last Wednesday, June 8. Their states of origin, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, academic qualifications, recommended ranks and proposed duty stations was made public.

Excerpts from the documents show that six of the new recruits are of the position of deputy director, 10 are assistant directors. Thirty-four are of the rank of deputy manager, the rest are made up of senior managers, managers, assistant managers and officers.

All the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are represented on the list. Akwa Ibom State, for example, got six slots, while Gombe has 13.

Ondo state is a beneficiary of 13 slots, Lagos state, where Fowler hails from, was awarded 14 slots, Katsina got 18, Kano 15 and Borno 23, Rivers state was given 14 slots.

However, in a letter to Sahara Reporters, Wahab Gbadamosi, FIRS acting director of information, denied the allegations: “Your enquiry on the targeted recruitment at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) refers. We wish to respond as follows: Please note that requisite agencies of government approved the targeted recruitment by the FIRS.

READ ALSO: Top companies shut down nationwide over tax evasion

Due process in recruiting into a Federal Government agency was followed. The FIRS is a conscientious, law-abiding institution which adheres to statutory rules and procedures. The FIRS is focused on its duty to collect revenue to fund the national budget and pleads that it should be allowed to concentrate on its 2016 target of N4. 9 trillion.”

Nevertheless, Sahara Reporters suspect nepotism as the names of the relevant agencies that approved the recruitment remain unknown as well as it’s unclear whether the vacancies were ever advertised.

The full list of the new employees can be viewed on Sahara Reporters.

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