In a significant move to strengthen its operational foundation ahead of its transformation into the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) next month, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has officially entered a partnership with its French counterpart, the Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFP). The two agencies formalized their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on areas of mutual interest and the promotion of efficient tax administration.
The signing ceremony took place at the French Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday. Mr. Zacch Adedeji, the FIRS Chairman who signed the document for the Nigerian agency, remarked that the event “reflects a shared commitment to building stronger, more resilient, and more forward-looking tax administrations for the two countries.”
Signing on behalf of the DGFP was the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, who underscored the critical importance of collaboration between France and Nigeria in the fiscal space.
Mr. Adedeji, in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, highlighted digital transformation as a key area where Nigeria stands to benefit immensely. Nigeria intends to leverage France’s advanced use of technology in areas like compliance management, taxpayer services, and data-driven enforcement.
He noted that the exchange is mutually beneficial, stating that France will, in turn, gain “fresh perspectives from Nigeria’s rapid digital expansion, our agile adoption of new tools, and the unique solutions we are developing for a fast-growing, technology-driven population.”
According to Adedeji, this “two-way exchange is essential as both countries adapt to emerging challenges such as Artificial Intelligence deployment, cybersecurity, and cross-border taxation.” He revealed that as the FIRS transitions into the NRS, it plans to deliberately seek out and engage with more similar global partners. This partnership with France, he concluded, is expected to enable the tax institutions to exchange ideas, share innovations, and learn robustly from each other’s experiences.
