QUARTERLY PERCEPTION SURVEY OF FIRS
REFORMS KICK OFF.
INTRODUCTION
In order to gauge the impact of its reform program FIRS has commenced the “QUARTERLY PERCEPTION SURVEY PROJECT”. The surveykicked off on the 13th January, 2010 when the Consultant, Messrs JWT/PSI made a formal presentation to a forum attended by all heads of departments in the head quarters and the FIRS management at the Operational Management Meeting (OMM).
The survey is to be conducted in a period of one (1) year with the base line in the first quarter and there after similar surveys shall be carried out in each of the three other quarters of 2010.
This survey is critical to enable FIRS and indeed the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as Donor Agencies to have a fair assessment of the impact of the reform. A base line survey, which would have established how the publics (internal and external) perceived the Service when the reform began, should have been done about 2005 but was only done in 2006.
An initial or baseline survey provides the contrast against which the impact of the reform is gauged through public perception ascertained in subsequent surveys. Therefore, as the Service prepares to acquire an Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS), which is expected to impact very significantly on how the Service does business, the first survey to be done under this initiative will provide the baseline against which the impact of the ITAS project and other reform projects will be measured in subsequent surveys.
The Quarterly Perception Survey of FIRS is aimed at assessing the staff and public perception of FIRS, tax reforms of the Service and capacity building.
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN:
In order to fully address the survey objectives, the Consultant is using a quantitative research technique (QRT) by adopting a face –to – face personal interviewing approach to be conducted in homes/offices.
The survey is targeted at both internal and external stake holders/respondents numbering one thousand (1000) across the seven regions for four (4) weeks after each quarter in the year. The responses will be analyzed and a Perception Survey Report produced for each survey.
The sampling technique adopted is:
i. General public: through a stratified multi-stage random. This will ensure the generation of a truly representative sample that is devoid of biases while guarantying precise projection of the survey results into the entire population within an acceptable confidence limit of optimal cost, time and practical feasibility.
ii. Key stakeholders: selection of special public within each selected locations will be done using quota sampling methods, different opinion leaders will be allocated specific quota such that all categories will be adequately represented by location. Not more than six interviews will be conducted among any category of opinion leaders in any study locations to avoid over sampling.
iii. Staff: samples will be taken from low, middle and top level staff.
OBJECTIVES
ØTo monitor the perception of key stakeholders and the general public, on the various areas of the reforms in FIRS.
ØTo obtain relevant feedback with a view to modifying existing strategies and/ or formulating new strategies aimed at a more effective marketing of the reforms.
ØTo provide input for formulating an effective taxpayer education and change management strategy.
PROJECT SCOPE
ØOrganizing of survey targeted at internal and external markets such as Tax Consultants, large, medium and small taxpayers (external) and for internal, such as our regional set up or our grade levels structure.
ØAnalysis of survey result; and
Ø Training of FIRS staff.
PROJECT TOOLS
ØStandard questionnaires used quarterly for the project.
ØReport on the analysis and interpretation of questionnaires covering in particular the perception of key stakeholders and the general public on various areas of the reforms; and
ØA written training guide for the trained personnel.
EXPECTED PROJECT OUTCOME
Findings from the survey are expected to guide FIRS in developing appropriate strategies towards repositioning the FIRS reforms.
A 13 member Project Team has already been constituted by Corporate Communications Department (CCD) in collaboration with the Modernization Department (MOD) to participate as trainees/observers in the exercise, in order to understand research ethics and acquire relevant skills that can assist them conduct similar survey in future.
Management therefore, craves support by all staff to make the on going Perception Survey Exercise a success.
BY ABUBAKAR B.T
Program Officer/ Change Management & Communication (PO/CM&C)