President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr. William Babatunde Fowler as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). He replaces Mr. Sunday Ogungbesan, who previously occupied the office in acting capacity.

The change of guards was announced this afternoon through a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina.

Dr. Fowler was the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue (LIRS) from 2005 to 2014.

He had his higher education in the United States where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration degree from the California State University.

Before joining the service of the Lagos State Government, Dr. Fowler worked in the banking sector for about 20 years with long stints at Credit Lyonnais Nigeria Limited and Chartered Bank.

Under his leadership, LIRS achieved a sharp increase in internally generated revenue from an average of N3.6. billion per month in January 2006, to an average of about N20.5 billion per month in 2013.

Fowler, who holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree of the Irish International University, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Business Management Association of the United Kingdom.

“He will serve as Acting Executive Chairman of FIRS until his appointment is confirmed by the Senate,” Adesina said.

Meanwhile, News Express has learnt that Dr. Bright Okogwu, who was today replaced by Mr. Aliyu Yahaya Gusau as Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, was not sacked but left voluntarily. A source disclosed that Dr. Okogwu voluntarily left service and has joined the African Development Bank (AfDB).

“Mr. Gusau’s appointment is with effect from August 18, 2015 and is for a term of four years, renewable for another four years, unless he attains the retirement age of 60 years or completes 35 years of pensionable service,” Adesina said in the same statement that announced Fowler’s appointment as the new FIRS helmsman.

•Photo shows Tunde Fowler.