By Chukwuma Umeorah

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has pledged to establish a special trust fund, guarantee employment, and provide full educational sponsorship for the children of four staff members who lost their lives in the recent Afriland Towers fire in Lagos.

Speaking during a memorial service in honour of the deceased colleagues in Lagos yesterday, the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, announced that the Service would take full responsibility for the upbringing and welfare of the children left behind. He explained that the commitment includes covering all school-related expenses up to university level, encompassing both first and second degrees.

“In FIRS, we do not see ourselves as an institution; we are family. And in every family, when one is lost, we all feel emptiness. To the families, I want to say this: we believe in you, we stand with you, and we will continue to walk with you. Please be confident in knowing that you are not alone,” Adedeji said.

The Chairman further disclosed that a trust fund would be formally ratified to guarantee continuity beyond his tenure, ensuring that the commitment remains binding on the Service. He stressed that the families would have full control of the fund, demonstrating the Service’s intention to provide both immediate and long-term support.

He described the deceased staff as individuals who “lived lives of service, never seeking glory, but always working so that others would benefit,” adding that their time in the Service left behind a legacy of duty, sacrifice, and commitment to building a better Nigeria.

The memorial service was attended by colleagues, friends, and family members who gathered to pay respects and hear the reading of the profiles of the four deceased.

Deputy Manager of Tax at FIRS Lagos Island, Nasiru Usman, who narrowly escaped the inferno, recounted the harrowing experience of September 16. According to him, the fire, which reportedly originated from the inverter room, was compounded by heavy smoke that trapped many staff members between floors. “To the glory of God many of us survived, but sadly four of our colleagues did not make it.”

Usman urged government agencies to strengthen fire response mechanisms and enforce stricter safety compliance in office complexes, particularly those located in high-density commercial areas such as Lagos Island. “If there had been prompt action by the fire service despite the human traffic in Balogun, something could have been done faster. We appeal to government to look into these issues to prevent future occurrences,” he added.

The four FIRS staff honoured at the service were: Mr. George Faith Ekelikhotse, aged 57, an Assistant Director who joined the Service in 1993; Mr. David Oluwafemi Sunday-Jatto, aged 51, a Deputy Manager with a record of service since 2010; Mr. Ifaranmaye Peter, aged 48, a Deputy Manager at the Lagos Island office; and Mrs. Onyemelukwe Nkem Agnes, aged 54, a Manager who joined the Service in 2012. Their passing, attendees noted, had left a void not only in the Service but also in their communities.

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