The Federal Inland Income Service (FIRS) has dismissed reviews suggesting that France was granted entry to Nigeria’s tax information, digital infrastructure, or operational management of its methods.
The denial follows widespread criticism, notably on social media, after FIRS signed a cooperation settlement with France aimed toward modernising Nigeria’s tax administration by way of digital transformation, capability growth, and improved cross-border enforcement.
The pact comes simply weeks earlier than the formal transition of FIRS into the Nigeria Income Service (NRS) scheduled for January 2026.
Official clarification from FIRS
In an announcement issued on Friday and e-signed by Dr Umar Ahmed, FIRS Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, the company clarified the character of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Route Générale des Funds Publiques (DGFiP).
“The Federal Inland Income Service (FIRS) has famous current publications and social media commentary expressing issues relating to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) just lately signed with France’s Route Générale des Funds Publiques (DGFiP).
“Whereas FIRS appreciates the general public curiosity and patriotic concern, it is very important make clear that the MoU is a strictly technical assistant and capacity-building framework.
“At no level does it grant France entry to Nigerian tax information, digital infrastructure, or operational management of our methods. All Nigerian legal guidelines relating to information safety, sovereignty, and cybersecurity stay totally in pressure, and the MoU contains sturdy confidentiality and information safety provisions.”
France’s experience in tax administration
The assertion highlighted DGFiP’s world repute as one of many world’s most subtle tax administrations, with over 100 years of institutional expertise, a workforce of greater than 90,000 professionals, and acknowledged experience in digital tax methods, governance, taxpayer providers, and public finance administration.
“This partnership is advisory, non-intrusive, and mutually helpful, designed to strengthen FIRS’ institutional capability because it transitions into the Nigerian Income Service (NRS),” the company added.
Collaboration with native innovators
FIRS additionally addressed issues that Nigerian know-how suppliers have been being sidelined within the course of.
“Opposite to strategies in some quarters that native know-how suppliers are being sidelined, FIRS continues to have interaction and collaborate with Nigerian innovators, together with NIBSS, Interswitch, PayStack, and Flutterwave.
“The MoU just isn’t meant to ship technical providers, however fairly to supply capacity-building, advisory help, and data sharing based mostly on DGFiP’s intensive institutional expertise.”
Give attention to institutional strengthening
In accordance with FIRS, the collaboration will give attention to institutional strengthening, workforce growth, digital transformation steerage, taxpayer schooling, coverage modernization, and regional integration—all aligned with Nigeria’s sovereignty and nationwide pursuits.
The company emphasised that Nigeria retains full management over its tax administration and information.
“Removed from compromising nationwide management, this settlement represents a strategic initiative to modernize Nigeria’s tax administration, improve institutional capability, and strengthen the nation’s long-term financial resilience. Nigeria stays totally answerable for its tax methods, information, and coverage path.”
FIRS reiterated its dedication to transparency, professionalism, and collaboration within the pursuit of nationwide growth, whereas encouraging knowledgeable public discourse on tax reforms.
What it is best to know
On Wednesday, FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji and the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, signed the memorandum of understanding on behalf of each nations.
- The settlement, signed on the French Embassy in Abuja, brings FIRS into a proper working partnership with France’s tax authority, Route Générale des Funds Publiques, one in every of Europe’s most technologically superior income businesses.
- Adedeji mentioned the partnership symbolises a shared ambition to construct “stronger, extra resilient and forward-looking” tax methods at a time world public finance is being reshaped by know-how, synthetic intelligence and cross-border digital commerce.
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