The Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS has responded to public concerns after reports and social media posts claimed that France would collect taxes on behalf of Nigeria under a new Memorandum of Understanding MoU. In a statement, FIRS said the claims were incorrect and stressed that the agreement with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques DGFiP is only for technical assistance and capacity building.
According to the agency, the MoU does not give France access to Nigerian tax data, digital infrastructure, or control of any operational system. FIRS stated that all Nigerian laws on data protection, sovereignty, and cybersecurity remain active, and the agreement itself contains strong confidentiality and data protection measures.
FIRS described DGFiP as one of the most experienced tax administrations in the world, with more than 100 years of institutional practice and a workforce of over 90,000 professionals. The agency said the partnership is advisory and non-intrusive, explaining that it is designed to support Nigeria’s ongoing transition from FIRS to the Nigerian Revenue Service NRS. The statement noted that the collaboration gives Nigeria an opportunity to learn from global best practices in digital tax systems, institutional governance, policy development, taxpayer services, and public finance management, while Nigeria still maintains full control of its tax administration and data.
Addressing claims that the agreement sidelines Nigerian technology developers, FIRS said it continues to work closely with local industry players such as NIBSS, Interswitch, PayStack, and Flutterwave. It added that the MoU is not aimed at providing technical services but focuses on capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advisory support based on DGFiP’s long-term institutional experience.
The agency highlighted key areas of cooperation including workforce development, digital transformation guidance, taxpayer education, modernization of policies, and support for regional integration, stressing that all these areas align with Nigeria’s national interest and sovereignty.
FIRS encouraged public discussions on tax reforms but urged that such debates be based on accurate information. The agency said the agreement does not compromise Nigeria’s authority but instead strengthens the country’s long-term economic stability by modernizing its tax administration. “Nigeria remains fully in command of its tax systems, data, and policy direction,” the statement said.
Dr Umar Ahmed, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at FIRS, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to transparency, professionalism, and collaboration in supporting national development.
