WASHINGTON, D.C. — Shaking things up like a jollof rice pot! President Donald Trump don jettison former U.S. Rep. Billy Long from his new job as IRS commissioner, and e happen just two months after him confirm am for the role. This wahala wey enter the IRS, na wetin dem fit call ‘the shortest appointment history’ since the office start for 1862. Chai!
As e be, nobody sabi wetin cause this sudden exit, but Long don talk say Trump don nominate am to go become ambassador to Iceland. Na big big role o! No be small excitement as he yarn say, “I dey thrill to answer my friend Trump’s call and I ready to push the agenda forward. Ambassadorship no easy, but naija, I dey come!” (I mean, who no go like to chop fresh fish and drink palm wine for Iceland? 😂)
Now, who go take over the IRS? Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent go serve as acting commissioner until dem fit settle matter and find permanent replacement. But make I tell you, IRS don dey feel like a jigsaw puzzle! E don change leaders like wardrobe since Trump start im second term. Just imagine the drama of four acting heads wey don pass through that office before Long even chop the chair!
Long, that former auctioneer wey fit sell sand for desert, was super unusual choice for this IRS jaga-jaga position. Before him confirmation, dem don dey dig into him past wey get plenty worries—like how him involved with some fraud-ridden pandemic tax breaks and all those campaign contributions wey dem don dey raise eyebrow about. Na person wey fit do business with fraud like this go dey head tax agency? (That’s why your tax returns need eyes, my people!)
But wait, e get more! Na this Long dey promise IRS workers say he go help change culture wey go make everybody’s life better. Na wetin? If dem no fit welcome culture change, why dem go carry some small small tax credit schemes wey turn out fraud like say dem dey joke? At the end, he no even stay reach 90 days to start am! Talk about bad luck, abi na bad timing?
As we dey talk now, many IRS employees dey waka like zombies going through the stress while everything dey shake-up under the Trump administration. E be like na so palliatives go take dey stretch like pure water for hot sun. E no fit surprise say this agency don lose over 11,000 workers since Trump enter second term. Imagine how dem wan carry manage bill collectors wey no fit even manage dem collectors! Too much pressure dey for IRS wahala.
On top sey Long dey exit stage left, him still send email to staff say make dem enjoy early closing like se na Friday, but who sabi sey na true. But dem dey throw party for inside IRS, na per head matter dem dey handle well with this turnover wahala wey dey happen. Next, who know who go step in? Only time go tell! (And you sef, no forget to collect your refund, o!)
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