Nigeria’s Tax Agency Chief Zacch Adedeji Draws Attention Over Luxury Watch Amid VAT Concerns

Nigeria’s Tax Agency Chief Zacch Adedeji Draws Attention Over Luxury Watch Amid VAT Concerns

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has come under public scrutiny following reports and images showing him wearing a luxury Patek Philippe wristwatch reportedly valued at about ₦25.5 million, at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with the impact of rising Value Added Tax (VAT) and increasing living costs.

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The development has sparked widespread discussion, with critics questioning the optics of such an expensive accessory being displayed by the head of the nation’s tax authority, whose agency is tasked with revenue collection and tax enforcement. Many citizens argue that the display appears insensitive amid inflation, economic hardship, and mounting tax pressures on households and small businesses.

Others have defended Adedeji, noting that public officials are entitled to personal property acquired through legitimate means, and emphasizing that attention should remain on policy outcomes, transparency, and institutional performance rather than personal lifestyle.

As reactions continue, the incident has renewed conversations around leadership example, public perception, and the need for restraint and sensitivity by public office holders during periods of economic strain.

Nigeria’s Tax Agency Chief Zacch Adedeji Draws Attention Over Luxury Watch Amid VAT Concerns