The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has defended its recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s tax authority, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP), insisting the agreement does not compromise Nigeria’s taxpayers’ data, digital systems, or national sovereignty.
In a statement, FIRS clarified that the MoU is limited to technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, and is a standard international framework used by tax administrations globally. The agency stressed that the agreement is advisory, non-intrusive, and fully under Nigeria’s control.
The clarification follows objections from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the Northern Elders Forum, who expressed concerns that the MoU could expose Nigeria’s economic and tax data to foreign exploitation.
ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that while the party supports modernising Nigeria’s tax system, the secrecy surrounding the agreement raised questions about transparency, sovereignty, and protection of Nigerian taxpayers. ADC called for the full disclosure of the MoU or its immediate termination.
Atiku Abubakar also criticised the agreement, warning that granting foreign powers access to Nigeria’s financial operations could undermine the country’s economic independence. He described it as a potential attempt to make Nigeria a “vassal state” of France.
Responding to the criticism, FIRS said all Nigerian laws on data protection, cybersecurity, and sovereignty remain fully enforceable. The agency emphasised that the DGFiP partnership is meant to strengthen institutional capacity, workforce development, policy formulation, and adoption of best practices, without displacing Nigerian technology providers. FIRS cited ongoing collaborations with firms like NIBSS, Interswitch, PayStack, and Flutterwave as evidence of its commitment to local content.
The service urged the public to engage based on accurate information, noting that the MoU aims to build a modern, globally competitive tax administration capable of controlling its systems and data.
Despite FIRS’ assurance, ADC maintained that the agreement could still expose sensitive national data and called for an independent review to assess its implications for cybersecurity and sovereignty. The party also questioned what benefits France derives from the deal, highlighting the lack of transparency and consultation with the National Assembly.
ADC warned that without public disclosure and proper scrutiny, the MoU should be terminated to safeguard Nigeria’s strategic and economic interests.
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