The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has defended its ongoing staff welfare reforms and promotion processes, insisting that the current management has made significant investments in workers’ welfare, training and operational support despite prevailing economic challenges.
Reacting to concerns raised by a group of protesting staff, the Service said the administration led by Acting Executive Chairman, Mr. Michael Ango, inherited longstanding issues relating to promotions and staff welfare but immediately initiated measures aimed at addressing them through structured institutional processes.
According to the management, promotion examinations for eligible staff were successfully conducted in December 2025, while reports from the exercise had already been submitted for statutory approval due to the absence of a governing board.
The Service assured workers that successful employees would receive their promotion letters with effect from their dates of eligibility once approvals are concluded.
FCT-IRS also disclosed that efforts toward salary adjustments and improved remuneration packages were ongoing, although such reviews require approvals from external authorities, including the Honourable Minister and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Management noted that beyond salary discussions, it had already cleared outstanding allowances owed staff since 2021 and introduced additional welfare packages to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal and rising living costs.
Defending the deployment of 12 seconded personnel from the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), the Service described the move as a strategic inter-agency collaboration designed to strengthen technical expertise and improve revenue administration within the FCT.
The agency maintained that the arrangement was temporary and intended to support the implementation of its expanded organisational structure pending the development of sufficient in-house manpower.
Highlighting improvements in workplace infrastructure, the management stated that over 240 laptops had been procured and distributed to staff members within the last two years, compared to fewer than 100 functional computers previously available in the agency.
It further disclosed that two newly acquired 30-seater buses would soon be deployed to ease transportation challenges faced by workers following increased fuel costs.
The Service also pointed to aggressive investments in manpower development, revealing that staff members had participated in more than 105 local and international training programmes, conferences and professional development initiatives since August 2024.
According to the statement, every staff member has benefited from at least one training opportunity this year alone, while subscriptions to professional bodies are also being funded by the management.
FCT-IRS added that it had encouraged the formation of a staff union to promote structured dialogue and internal engagement, noting that the recognised union had distanced itself from the protest and continued to engage management through established channels.
The management reaffirmed its commitment to continuous dialogue, staff welfare and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening the Service’s productivity and operational efficiency.