The immediate past Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Alhaji Mohammad Nami has revealed the secret behind the success story of his four-year tenure at the Revenue House.
He spoke on Sunday, while receiving his ‘Man of the Year 2023’ Award at an impressive ceremony organized by the Management of The Top10 Magazine at the Rockview Hotel in Abuja.
The Top10 Magazine Man of the Year 2023 award was given to Nami in recognition of his record-breaking feat in revenue generation by the FIRS under his Chairmanship, and for his commitment and excellent service which he rendered to the nation while in office.
He deployed a tax reform programme built on a four-pronged approach of stakeholder relations, customer centricity, data & technology and institutional restructuring, Nami spurred an astronomical rise in non-oil revenues in the three years following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Receiving the award, Nami revealed that his achievements as the head of the FIRS were due to his commitment and determination to give his all to the job.
He therefore advised Nigerians to give their 100% whenever they have the opportunity to serve the nation in any given capacity, insisting that 80% commitment was not enough, not even 90%.
In his words: “Ever since I took up the mandate of the FIRS, I made up my mind to give my all to the task before me and, ladies and gentlemen, you could bear me witness that I did just that.
“For every day I was in the office, I was committed to the delivery of the mandate of the FIRS. I gave morning and night to the service of this nation with every piece of me. Occasionally, I hardly had quality sleep for a week; for some days, I would work for 20 hours. My family would ask for me, sometimes it will take two good weeks before we spend time together. For some of you who were surprised that why my wife was following me anywhere I was going to, that was the only opportunity I had to spend time with her. This was the price I paid to attain the target that we achieved. It took a toll on me but I had no regret.
“I took this job with a mindset to give it my all and I did just that. The result of that commitment, that dedication and that perseverance is what we are celebrating here today.
“Let me use this opportunity to share a brief word of advice to all of us. If you are giving any job, for you to succeed please give your all, not 80%, not 90% but 100% otherwise you will not succeed. It is on this note that I accept the award presented to me today, by the Top10 Magazine as the man of the year 2023.
“I want to also use this medium to dedicate this award to my lovely wife standing here beside me, to my lovely children, to my extended family who have been pillars of support throughout this journey.”
The former chairman also commended the management and staff of the Top10 Magazine for honouring him and disclosed that from the day he was appointed to pilot the affairs of the FIRS, he decided to give his very best, which he maintained all through his stay in office.
He said: “I am humbled to be here today and to be honoured as the Top10 Magazine Man of the year 2023 for what I will describe as my humble and modest efforts for the reforms we have done together at FIRS, he said.
The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Top10 Magazine, Mr. Tony Iji, in his remark, said for the past 8 years, the team had remained focused on what they set out to achieve which, according to him, “is to celebrate excellence.”
He said the selection of the former FIRS Boss was in recognition of the numerous records set by him and other accomplishments recorded by FIRS during his leadership of the Service.
“For past 8 years, we have not had cause to be arrested by the law enforcement agencies. That is to tell us how meticulous we are in the selection of our staff. The award started since 2016 and so far, all the people we have selected we have not had any regret.
“Unlike other years when there were many options, this year was only one man that was selected, and the person is Mohammad Nami. The man has accomplished so much, his record as Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) shall continue to remain.
“The excellence awards are complementary to the man of the year award. Going forward I think we will continue to do what we know to do best, which is to be more meticulous in identifying more credible Nigerians to be on the platform.”
Mr. Iji congratulated all award winners, their friends and family who thronged the Rockview Hotel Royale venue of the ceremony to celebrate with awardee.
The famous news platform also honoured 20 extra-ordinary Nigerians with the “Excellence Awards” for having distinguished themselves in their various fields.
The awardees include: The Diaspora Nigerian of the Year awarded to Cyprian Uzoh; State Governor of the Year awarded to Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Political Mobilizer of the Year (Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo); Legislator of the Year to (Hon. Terseer Ugbor); Integrity Business Person of the Year (Alh. Dr Aliyu Wammako); Security Icon of the Year (Dr. Kabir Adamu); CEO of the Year (Adeyemi Adeniyi); Young Inspirational Business Person of the Year (Omoha John); Public Service Official of the Year (Mohammed Shehu); Humanitarian Service Icon of the Year (Chief Maduburochukwu Attah); and Young Business Leader of the Year (Aliyu Garba) .
Others are Entrepreneur of the Year awarded to Hon. Urlei Ezeh; Real Estate Riding Star of the Year (Adegoke Daniel); Diaspora Nigerian Business Icon of the Year (Emmanuel Asuquo); Talent Manager of the Year (Maurice Sokari); Local Government Administrator of the Year (Willie C.); Group Leader of the Year (Elvis Abuyere); Female Real Estate (Bukola Olatujoye); CEO Bogo Beverages (Godwin Oche); and the Business Person of the Year).
Besides the awards ceremony, The Top10 Magazine for the Year 2023 was also unveiled and launched by the awardees and other dignitaries, who pledged their support to the development and sustainability of the platform.
The Top10 Magazine is a monthly publication established eight years ago as a platform to celebrate excellence and people of excellence from all human endeavours.
The Top10 Man of the Year award was instituted same year as an annual award by the magazine to recognize and honour one outstanding personality in a given year that has recorded landmark accomplishments in the Nigerian society.
This year’s recipient, Mr. Nami, a tax administration leader, set many tax collection records at FIRS when he was in charge as the agency’s Executive Chairman.
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