The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has moved swiftly to douse concerns and clarify what it termed “misinformation” surrounding its recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP). The tax authority vehemently asserts that the agreement poses absolutely no threat to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty or national security.
This clarification comes in direct response to an open letter penned by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF). On Sunday, the NEF addressed the Federal Government, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, characterizing the MoU as a dangerous tax data agreement that could potentially expose Nigeria’s most sensitive economic information to foreign control.
Signed by NEF spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the letter expressed profound alarm, stating that the agreement extends far beyond simple technical cooperation. Prof. Jiddere argued that the deal effectively creates an “unprotected gateway into the heart of Nigeria’s tax infrastructure.” The Forum stated its position with gravitas: “The Northern Elders Forum writes today with grave concern and an overwhelming sense of patriotic duty. Nigeria stands at a crossroads, one that threatens the very pillars of our economic sovereignty, national security and collective dignity as an independent African nation.”
In an e-statement released Sunday, the FIRS management sought to calm nerves and offer a detailed explanation. The agency insisted that there is no legitimate cause for the public’s anxiety, stressing that the agreement is designed to strengthen, rather than undermine, Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The FIRS acknowledged the public’s patriotic concern, noting: “The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has observed recent online commentary, particularly a letter credited to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) regarding a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP). While we appreciate the public’s vigilance and patriotic concern, it is, however, important to provide clarity on the misconceptions arising from the event.”
The tax body unequivocally clarified that the MoU is a “standard, globally recognised cooperation framework focused solely on technical assistance and capacity building.” They stressed that the agreement explicitly does not grant France access to Nigerian taxpayers’ data, digital systems, or any element of the FIRS’s operational infrastructure.
