Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation, has condemned calls for Zacch Adedeji, the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to temporarily step aside over “unconstitutional activities”.
The Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, a socio-political group, had asked the FIRS chief to step aside over “multiple allegations and troubling questions… concerning his unexplained lifestyle”.
The group said Nigeria deserves institutions built on transparency and leaders whose actions strengthen, not undermine, public trust.
“In the coming days, after further consultations, the Arewa Youth Movement shall proceed with a formal Vote of No Confidence should these concerns remain unaddressed or if appropriate steps are not taken by the authorities,’ the group said.
Responding in a post on X on Sunday, Fani-Kayode said the call for the chairman to step aside over “mere allegations” was unjust and absurd.
“I just saw an advert in one of the newspapers in which a group that calls itself the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement called for the “stepping aside” of the Chairman of @FIRSNigeria, Mr. Zach Adedeji (@ZacchAdedeji), over what they have described as “unconstitutional activities”,” the post reads.
“First and foremost this group does not represent Arewa in any shape or form and I doubt it represents any youths either.
“I consider it a privilege to have lived in the North and known virtually every relevant group and notable individual here for the last 23 years and I have never heard of this faceless so-called “Youth” group.
“Secondly, to call for the stepping aside of one of the current administration’s brightest stars on the basis of what they themselves have described as mere allegations is unjust and absurd.”
He said the tax sector reforms are exceptional and rank among the “greatest achievements of President Bola Tinubu”, with Adedeji and his FIRS team implementing them in a commendable, fair, and exemplary manner.
The former minister said attempts to remove the FIRS chairman are “tantamount to trying to stop the great work he is doing” and risk undermining the government’s efforts to bring transparency and sanity to the sector.
