The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has officially dismissed reports suggesting that France would collect taxes for Nigeria under a new agreement. According to FIRS, the FIRS France tax MoU is strictly focused on technical assistance, capacity building, and advisory support, and does not give France access to Nigerian tax data or control over operational systems.
FIRS explained that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP) is advisory and non-intrusive, designed to strengthen Nigeria’s transition toward the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS). The agreement aims to help Nigeria adopt global best practices in digital tax systems, institutional governance, taxpayer services, and policy development, while ensuring the nation maintains full authority over its data and systems.
Addressing concerns that local technology developers might be sidelined, FIRS clarified that partnerships with Nigerian companies such as NIBSS, Interswitch, PayStack, and Flutterwave remain central to its initiatives. The FIRS France tax MoU focuses on knowledge transfer, workforce development, digital transformation guidance, and modernization of tax policies, all aligning with Nigeria’s national interest and sovereignty.
The agency emphasized that the agreement includes strict confidentiality and data protection measures. “Nigeria remains fully in command of its tax systems, data, and policy direction,” the statement said, highlighting that the FIRS France tax MoU is meant to enhance efficiency and strengthen long-term economic stability, not cede authority to a foreign government.
Dr. Umar Ahmed, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at FIRS, reiterated the agency’s commitment to transparency, professionalism, and collaboration. FIRS encouraged public discussions on tax reforms but urged that they be based on accurate information, warning against spreading misinformation about the FIRS France tax MoU.
By emphasizing its advisory nature, the MoU reassures Nigerians that the country’s tax sovereignty and digital infrastructure remain fully under national control, while benefiting from France’s technical guidance and institutional experience.