The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has moved to allay growing public concerns over its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP), insisting that the agreement poses no threat to Nigeria’s data security, sovereignty, or local technology ecosystem.
In a press stattement issued by FIRS management today and made available to this medium, the agency said it was compelled to clarify what it described as widespread misconceptions following online commentary, including a letter attributed to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), questioning the intent and implications of the MoU.
FIRS stressed that the agreement is a standard, globally recognised framework for cooperation among tax authorities, designed strictly for technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.
It stated categorically that the MoU does not grant France or any foreign institution access to Nigerian taxpayers’ data, digital platforms, or operational systems.
According to the agency, all applicable Nigerian laws on data protection, cybersecurity, and national sovereignty remain firmly in force and are being strictly enforced.
The service noted that the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), like its predecessor FIRS, places the highest priority on national security and the protection of taxpayers’ information.
It explained that similar agreements are routinely signed by revenue authorities worldwide to facilitate collaboration and the adoption of global best practices.
The DGFiP, it added, is one of the world’s most experienced tax administrations, with more than a century of institutional expertise in areas such as digital transformation, taxpayer services, governance, and public finance.
FIRS emphasised that the partnership is entirely advisory, non-intrusive, and fully under Nigeria’s control, aimed solely at enabling the country to learn from international experience to strengthen its own systems.
The agency also dismissed claims that the MoU would sideline local technology providers, reaffirming its ongoing collaboration with Nigerian firms including NIBSS, Interswitch, PayStack, and Flutterwave.
According to the statement, the agreement does not involve the provision of technical services or outsourcing of functions, but is limited to institutional strengthening, workforce development, policy support, and best-practice guidance. While welcoming robust public debate on tax reforms, FIRS urged that such discussions be grounded in the actual content and purpose of the agreement.
The agency concluded that rather than undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, the MoU enhances it by supporting the development of a modern, capable, and globally competitive tax administration firmly in control of its systems, data, and strategic direction, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, professionalism, and partnerships that advance Nigeria’s long-term economic development.
