The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced the commencement of its 2024 recruitment exercise for interested and qualified Nigerians to join the service.

This was announced on FIRS’s official X handle on Monday, October 21.

The service revealed that applicants for the available position of Tax Officers must be graduates from Nigeria.

The statement further stated that applicants must possess certain qualities including integrity, a strong desire to excel, strong analytics, problem-solving and communication skills to qualify for the vacant position.

The statement, titled; Recruitment Notice, also stated that specific information regarding application procedures, including deadline and submission details, will be published shortly on the FIRS official website, https://www.firs.gov.ng.

The FIRS encouraged all eligible candidates, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background, to apply noting that the service is an equal opportunity employer.

The statement reads, “The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is excited to announce upcoming opportunities for young graduates to join our team as Tax Officers (Officer II and Officer I) in various locations across Nigeria.

We are looking for candidates with integrity and a strong desire to excel professionally, as well as those who possess strong analytical, problem-solving, and communications skills.

Further specific information regarding application procedures, including application deadline and submission details, will be published shortly on our official website.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is an equal-opportunity employer.

We encourage all eligible candidates, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background, to consider applying.”

Investors King reported that in a move to address the staffing gap in teaching in Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun unveiled an online portal for qualified individuals interested in joining the civil service in the state.

The application portal was unveiled by the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu.

Arigbabu noted that the recruitment will be overseen by the Ministry in collaboration with the State Teaching Service Commission, the State Universal Basic Education Board, and the Ogun State Technical and Vocational Education Board.

The organized labour has expressed dissatisfaction with the continued delay in the implementation of the newly announced ₦70,000 minimum wage for workers by some state governors.

In a recent interview with journalists, a labour leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity revealed that the only thing preventing the union from taking action is the scheduled meeting between the Federal Government and the state governors.

However, the source explained that the union has agreed to wait until the end of October, adding that they will take appropriate action after the ultimatum.

The labour leader emphasized that the new minimum wage is a law, and governors who violate this law will face consequences.

The labour leader said, “We are waiting for the Federal Government to meet with the state governors on the matter since the Federal Government has agreed to discuss it with them.

“We resolved to wait until the end of October before deciding what next steps to take. If by the end of October, the situation remains unchanged, then we shall take appropriate action.

“The ₦70,000 minimum wage is a law duly legislated by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President. There are consequences for those who breach the law. We shall also deal with such individuals, whether public or private, in our own ways within the ambit of the law.

“One other issue we are discussing with the Federal Government is the commencement date. The amendment made by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President did not affect or change the principal act, which stipulates that the minimum wage commenced on April 18. The government is aware of this. So, once discussions are concluded, arrears will be paid across the board nationwide and in all sectors.”

Investors King understands that while some state governors have announced an increase in the minimum wage for workers in their states, others are yet to implement the new wage, casting uncertainty over many.

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has said the least minimum wage that the state workers expected from the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is N100,000.

While hailing the governor for upgrading the state’s minimum wage to N85,000, Rhodes-Vivour, stressed that the new minimum wage is insufficient to cater to the high cost of living in the state.

In a tweet via his X handle on Thursday, the politician noted that judging by the worsening cost of living in the country, the least any worker could earn is N100,000.

He opined that a minimum wage of “at least N100,000 is necessary for Lagos workers to achieve parity with their counterparts in other states” owing to the high costs of transportation, rent, and also because the state “ranks second nationally in the average cost of a healthy diet, making it the second most expensive city in the country to feed.”

The ex-LP governorship candidate bemoaned the governor for his “boasts” on increasing the state’s budget from N600 billion to over N1 trillion, saying it was of less importance compared to the state’s poor infrastructure, low investment in human capital and education outcomes, among others.

He said Governor Sanwo-Olu boasts of increasing the Lagos budget from N600 billion to over N1 trillion, with a projected N3 trillion before his term ends, adding that the governor claims a 94% budget performance rate.

However, according to him, these claims seem to be at odds with the reality of Lagos as the city still grapples with poor infrastructure, low investment in human capital and education outcomes, a struggling public transportation network, increasing slums and informal communities, and very few social welfare programs.

For him, “These are the issues that truly matter to the people of Lagos, not just the size of the budget.”

He stated, “It’s crucial to note that over 70% of Lagos State’s operating revenue comes from taxes, with PAYE (Pay As You Earn) contributing 45%. This means the state’s wealth, which the governor seems to take all the credit for, is primarily generated by citizens’ hard work.

“The critical question is: What tangible benefits do Lagosians receive in return for this significant contribution? Do their children have access to quality public education? Is there an efficient and affordable public transportation system? Are the roads well-maintained? Is social housing readily available? Can residents easily access capital for entrepreneurship?

“These are the real measures of a government’s success, not just the size of its budget. Boasting about an aggressive and exploitative tax system without commensurate investment in public goods is more characteristic of a cartel than a supposedly progressive government.”

Rhodes-Vivour added that the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state had “wasted 24 years, barely scratching the surface,” as he lamented the slow development rate in the state.

Investors King had reported that Governor Sanwo-Olu had announced N85,000 as the minimum wage the state would be paying.

The governor had said he looks forward to increasing the wage to N100,000 if the revenue of the state increases.