Born: 12 August 1956
Nationality: Nigerian
Profession: Public Officer, Tax Administrator, Social Reformer
Overview
Babatunde Fowler is a notable Nigerian tax administrator and former public officer. He served as:
- Executive Chairman, Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue
- Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS)
- Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
Career
Following the enactment of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law in January 2006, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue became autonomous and self-accounting.
- Fowler was appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the newly restructured Lagos State Internal Revenue Service and Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue.
Achievements in Revenue Generation
- Under Fowler's leadership, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in Lagos State rose dramatically:
- From an average of ₦3.6 billion per month (2006)
- To over ₦20.5 billion per month by 2014
Advocacy and Public Engagement
Reducing Oil Dependency
Fowler is a vocal advocate for diversifying Nigeria’s revenue sources and reducing overdependence on oil.
- At an international conference, he emphasized that:
> "The drastic drop in revenue had a negative impact on the balance in the federation account and by extension the amount accruing to the three tiers of government during the year 2009."
Tax Education Initiatives
- To stimulate early interest in taxation, Fowler introduced tax education competitions for school pupils.
- These competitions are sponsored by the tax board, offering cash prizes and scholarships to winners.
See Also
- Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS)
- Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
- Nigerian Tax Policy
- Internally Generated Revenue in Nigeria