The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has moved to dispel public concerns surrounding its recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP), following claims that the agreement could expose Nigerians’ tax data to foreign authorities.
In a statement issued by the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr Umar Ahmed, FIRS clarified that the MoU is limited to technical assistance and capacity building, stressing that it does not grant France access to Nigeria’s tax data, digital systems, or internal operations. The Service noted that all existing data protection and cybersecurity regulations remain fully in force, and that the agreement includes strict confidentiality clauses.
FIRS explained that DGFiP was selected as a partner due to its status as one of the most advanced tax administrations globally, with over a century of experience and a workforce exceeding 90,000 professionals. The collaboration, it said, will enable Nigeria to benefit from international best practices in areas such as digital taxation, governance, tax policy, and public finance management.
According to the agency, the partnership is advisory in nature and non-intrusive, and is intended to support FIRS’s evolution into the Nigerian Revenue Service. It will focus on strengthening human capacity, advancing digital transformation, and modernising policies, while ensuring Nigeria retains full control of its tax systems.
FIRS also rejected claims that the MoU would marginalise local technology firms, reaffirming its ongoing collaborations with Nigerian platforms including NIBSS, Interswitch, Paystack, and Flutterwave. It stressed that the agreement is not a service delivery contract but a framework for knowledge exchange.
The Service urged Nigerians to engage in fact-based discussions, emphasising that the MoU is aimed at improving tax administration and enhancing long-term economic resilience, not surrendering national assets or systems to foreign entities.
FIRS reiterated that Nigeria maintains complete ownership and control of its tax data, digital infrastructure, and policy decisions.
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