French MoU is for Capacity Building, Not Data Access, says FIRS
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has moved to quell public anxiety, particularly following concerns raised by groups like the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), regarding a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with France’s tax authority, the Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP).
In a statement released on Sunday, the FIRS categorically denied claims that the agreement grants France access to Nigeria’s sensitive fiscal and operational infrastructure.
The FIRS asserted that the MoU is purely a framework for technical assistance and capacity building, describing it as a “standard, globally recognised cooperation framework.” The tax service was adamant that the collaboration is strictly advisory and non-intrusive, remaining “entirely under Nigeria’s control.”
The statement refuted suggestions of any compromise on national security or data sovereignty. All existing Nigerian laws on data protection, cybersecurity, and national sovereignty “remain fully applicable and strictly enforced,” the agency stated.
“The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), like its predecessor (FIRS), places the highest premium on national security and maintains rigorous standards for the protection of all taxpayers’ information,” the report confirmed.
The partnership with the DGFiP, which the FIRS described as one of the world’s most advanced tax authorities with “over a century of institutional experience,” is intended solely to help Nigeria modernize its tax administration.
The benefits are focused on learning from the DGFiP’s deep expertise in digital transformation, taxpayer services, governance, and public finance. The collaboration is strictly limited to knowledge sharing, institutional strengthening, workforce development, policy support, and best-practice guidance.
The statement confirmed that the emerging Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) will continue its close working relationships with Nigerian technology innovators, specifically mentioning companies such as NIBSS, Interswitch, PayStack, and Flutterwave.
Far from weakening Nigeria’s position, the FIRS argued that the MoU is designed to strengthen national sovereignty by helping to build “a modern, capable, globally competitive tax administration one firmly in command of its systems, data, and strategic direction.”
Concluding its clarification, the FIRS welcomed public scrutiny of its reforms but called for accuracy in public discourse.
“We appreciate the public’s vigilance and patriotic concern, it is, however, important to provide clarity on the misconceptions arising from the event,” the statement read. “We welcome robust public engagement on tax reforms, but such conversations must reflect the actual content and purpose of the agreement.”
The FIRS insisted on its commitment to transparency, professionalism, and partnerships that foster Nigeria’s long-term economic development.
