Zacch Adedeji is a Nigerian accountant and public officer who serves as Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), formerly the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). He took charge in 2023. This biography covers his origin, education, career, tax reform role, and reported revenue results.
Who Is Zacch Adedeji?
Zacch Adedeji is a Nigerian accountant who serves as Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service. Wikipedia lists his full name as Zacch Adelabu Adedeji. Some outlets spell his first name Zaccheus. He was previously Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State and Special Adviser to the President on Revenue.
How Old Is Zacch Adedeji?
Zacch Adedeji was born on 8 January 1978, which makes him 48 years old in September 2026. Wikipedia and 21st Century Chronicle list this birth date.
What Are the Key Facts About Zacch Adedeji?
The table below summarizes biographical details. Each row names one attribute. The right column gives the detail for that attribute.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Zacch Adelabu Adedeji |
| Birth date | 8 January 1978 |
| Birthplace | Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria |
| Home area | Iwo-Ate, Ogo-Oluwa Local Government, Oyo State |
| Profession | Chartered accountant and public officer |
| Current role | Executive Chairman, Nigeria Revenue Service |
| Predecessor | Muhammad Mamman Nami |
| Appointed by | President Bola Tinubu, September 2023 |
Where Is Zacch Adedeji From?
Zacch Adedeji was born in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, and hails from the Iwo-Ate area of Ogo-Oluwa Local Government. Wikipedia gives the birthplace, and 21st Century Chronicle gives the home area. His official website describes a youth marked by a struggle against poverty and deprivation.
What Is Zacch Adedeji’s Educational Background?
Zacch Adedeji holds a first-class degree in accounting and a PhD in accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University. The table below lists each qualification and the institution that awarded it.
| Institution | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Federal Polytechnic, Ede | National Diploma in Accountancy |
| Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) | BSc in Management and Accounting, First Class |
| Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) | MSc in Accounting |
| Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) | PhD in Accounting, earned in 2023 |
| Harvard Kennedy School | Executive course |
Sources differ on two details. Wikipedia lists the Harvard course as economic development and the PhD as accounting. Nairametrics lists a certificate in Comparative Tax Policy and Administration and a PhD in Public Sector Finance.
What Did Zacch Adedeji Do Before Leading FIRS?
Zacch Adedeji worked in corporate finance and state government before joining the presidency. His career began at Procter and Gamble, where he held roles including Corporate Finance Manager for West Africa. The table below lists his main roles.
| Role | Period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Manager, Procter and Gamble | Early career | Roles included Finance Leader for an SAP implementation project |
| Commissioner for Finance, Oyo State | June 2011 to May 2015 | Appointed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi |
| Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council | Under President Buhari | Established the Nigeria Sugar Institute |
| Special Adviser to the President on Revenue | Until September 2023 | Served under President Tinubu |
Nairametrics also lists him as co-founder and managing partner of RTR, a financial consulting firm serving public and private institutions in West Africa.
How Did Zacch Adedeji Become FIRS Chairman?
President Bola Tinubu appointed Zacch Adedeji as acting Executive Chairman of FIRS on 14 September 2023. He replaced Muhammad Mamman Nami. Premium Times reported that the Senate confirmed him on 31 October 2023.
What Is the Nigeria Revenue Service?
The Nigeria Revenue Service is the agency that replaced FIRS as Nigeria’s federal tax collector. Tinubu signed the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act on 26 June 2025, alongside 3 other tax reform laws. The laws took effect on 1 January 2026. The NRS collects both tax and non-tax revenues, according to Andersen.
What Revenue Results Has the NRS Reported?
The NRS reported ₦28.3 trillion in revenue for 2025, up about 30% from the previous year. The table below lists reported collections by period.
| Period | Reported Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2023 | ₦12.3 trillion |
| 2025 | ₦28.3 trillion |
| First half of 2026 | Over ₦21.6 trillion |
Vanguard and PM News report these figures. ThisDay reports the 2025 figure as ₦28.2 trillion and states a 2026 target of ₦40.7 trillion. The figures come from the agency and from writers linked to it, so independent verification is limited.
What Reforms Has Zacch Adedeji Led?
Zacch Adedeji has led digital, structural, and legal reforms at the revenue agency. Reported changes include:
- Automation of over 80% of manual processes through the TaxPro-Max platform, according to ThisDay
- Launch of the Rev360 platform for taxpayers in 2026, according to Vanguard
- Conversion of FIRS into the NRS under the 2025 tax laws
- Commissioning of a 16-storey NRS headquarters in Abuja, reported by NRS Portal Guide
In March 2026, the NRS hosted the African Union sub-committee on tax and illicit financial flows in Abuja, with Adedeji delivering the welcome address.
What Public Positions Has Zacch Adedeji Taken?
Zacch Adedeji has defended the removal of the petrol subsidy as a fiscal necessity. TheCable reports that he stated at the April 2026 headquarters inauguration that the subsidy could have consumed 56% to 76% of the ₦68 trillion 2026 budget at a $120 per barrel oil price.
Have the Tax Reforms Faced Challenges?
The 2025 tax laws faced a court challenge before implementation. Arise News reports that a Federal Capital Territory High Court declined a request to stop the new tax regime from starting on 1 January 2026. The challenger cited alleged discrepancies in the laws, and the Budget Office of the Federation rejected claims of post-passage alterations.
What Is Zacch Adedeji Best Known For?
Zacch Adedeji is best known as the accountant who led the conversion of FIRS into the Nigeria Revenue Service. His first-class academic record, his role as Special Adviser on Revenue, and the reported rise in collections from ₦12.3 trillion in 2023 to ₦28.3 trillion in 2025 define his public profile.
People Also Ask
How old is Zacch Adedeji?
Zacch Adedeji is 48 years old in September 2026, based on his 8 January 1978 birth date.
What is Zacch Adedeji’s position?
Zacch Adedeji is the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service.
Where did Zacch Adedeji study?
Zacch Adedeji studied at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, and Obafemi Awolowo University.
Who appointed Zacch Adedeji as FIRS chairman?
President Bola Tinubu appointed Zacch Adedeji in September 2023.
What did Zacch Adedeji do before FIRS?
Zacch Adedeji worked at Procter and Gamble, served as Oyo State Finance Commissioner, led the National Sugar Development Council, and advised the President on revenue.