Chief David Olorunleke, Founding President of CITN and Former FIRS Chairman, Dies

The Nigerian financial sector is mourning the loss of a titan, Chief David Olorunleke, the founding President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). Chief Olorunleke, widely revered as the “Doyen of Taxation,” passed away peacefully in the early hours of Friday, October 24, 2025.

His death was officially announced in a statement signed by the Registrar/Chief Executive of CITN, Afolake Oso.

Chief Olorunleke was a foundational figure in Nigeria’s modern tax administration, having served as the first leader of the professional body from 1985 to 1995. His illustrious career extended into the highest echelons of government finance, where he held pivotal roles, including the former Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and a former Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The CITN described the late Chief as a trailblazer, a devoted mentor, and an “enduring champion of the tax profession in Nigeria.”

In honour of his legacy, the institute has opened condolence registers at its offices in both Lagos and Abuja, inviting prayers, reflections, and tributes as the nation celebrates the life and achievements of the man credited with shaping the structure of the country’s taxation profession.