Fowler noted that the taxman job is one of service to one’s fatherland as it gives one the opportunity to serve fellow humans and the nation. Change, he noted is constant. It is normal that people will always resist change, he noted.

He said “Let me thank all of you who are here for what we have been able to do for our country. From the driver to the senior staff, everybody played a role. But with change, sometimes there is resistance. People will not understand the vision; will not understand the reason for the change. But hope in leaving FIRS, I’ve left behind something, something, positive, that each and every one of you can build on.  We have got a mandate. That mandate is not just to collect revenue. It’s a mandate to collect the maximum amount of revenue for all concerned for the benefit of all Nigerians. There is nothing automatic about having a second Term. Some of you might say it’s a big surprise. It 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.  For those of you we are leaving behind, Ï do not want to get too scriptural. But I believe that anything that you do, that helps your fellow human being, your neighbour is a blessing. And I believe that this job that we have been given is a job that will continue to help  all Nigerians and all people residing in Nigeria. 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. I like you to keep the flag flying, But I hope that sometime, when I  visit, my picture will be somewhere on the wall. One thing, for people who have known me for a while, is that some of  them refer to me as a shark. I like to keep people on their toes. Some of you might have thought that I don’t appreciate your contribution. But some of you might have been able to do things better. And part of  my role is to bring out that s potentials in you. And I hope I have  been able to do that. I am content. I like to thank the President for giving me this opportunity of  service. It’s a privilege of service to your country. But at the same  time, I believe I leave behind a good crop of directors that can move  this organisation forward. I will say that for the incoming Chairman, for the incoming Board of Directors, give them the support. The vision, I believe, is the same vision that we have. But how to go about it may differ. Open yourselves up to change. At this point, it gives me extreme privilege,  to hand over the running of this organisation until the Senate  approves the  new Board, to someone who has been here, to someone who understands the working of the FIRS, to someone who has been part of  the change. And I believe that you will give him the support, not  even the support you have given me. But more support. So that when he  hands over the organisation to the new board, they will see that this organisation is one that shares the same vision, and of course  believes in his mandate. With these few words, I like to say it’s a pleasure working with all of you. Some of you might have thought that don’t like you. But I assure you it was work. But I believe in this room, we have got a lot of talent regardless of what happens, keep the flag flying. On this note, Mr. Aina, I have the privilege of handing over FIRS to you.  God bless FIRS. Long live the Republic of Nigeria.

Abba Kyari, on behalf of the president, had queried Fowler to explain “significant variances between the budgeted collections and actual collections for the period 2015 to 2018” and FIRS’s inability to meet the target.

Fowler, in response, said: “Please note that the variance in the budgeted and actual revenue collection performance of the service for the period 2016 to 2018 was mainly attributed to the following reasons:

The low inflow of oil revenues for the period especially Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) was due to the fall in the price of crude oil and reduction of crude oil production. Notwithstanding government efforts to diversify the economy, oil revenues remains an important component of total revenues accruable to the Federation. The price of crude oil fell from an average of $113.72, $110.98 and $100.40 per barrel in 2012, 2013 and 2014 to $ 52.65, $43.80 and $54.08 per barrel in 2015, 2016 and 2017. There was also a reduction in crude oil production from 2.31mbpd, 2.18mbpd and 2.20mbpd in 2012, 2013 and 2014 to 2.12mbpd, 1.81mbpd, and 1.88mbpd in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively. “the Nigerian economy also went into recession in the second quarter of 2016 which slowed down general economic activities. Tax revenue collection (CIT and VAT) being a function of economic activities were negatively affected but the actual collection of the above two taxes were still higher in 2016 to 2018 than in 2012 to 2014. During the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, GDP grew by 4.3%, 5.4%, and 6.3% while in 2015, 2016 and 2017 there was a decline in growth to 2.7%, -1.6% and 1.9% respectively. The tax revenue grew as the economy recovered in the second quarter of 2017. It is worthy of note that strategies and initiatives adopted in the collection of VAT during the period 2015-2017 led to approximately 40 percent increase over 2012-2014 collections. In 2014 the VAT collected was N802billion, compared to N1.1 trillion in 2018. This increase is attributable to various initiatives such as ICT innovations, continuous taxpayer education, taxpayer enlightenment, etc embarked upon by the Service. It is pertinent to note that when this administration came on board in August 2015, the target for the two major non-oil taxes were increased by 52 percent for VAT and 45 percent for CIT. “Notwithstanding the increase, FIRS has in line with the federal government’s revenue base diversification strategy has grown the non-oil tax collection by over N1.304 trillion (21 percent) when the total non-oil tax collection for 2016-2018 is compared to that of 2012-2014.”