Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has assured Nigerians that its agreement with France does not allow foreign access to taxpayer information or internal systems.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agency said the memorandum of understanding signed with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques is being misunderstood by some members of the public.
According to FIRS, the agreement, signed on December 10, is only meant to support better tax administration through cooperation.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the service explained that the French agency is involved strictly in advisory support and capacity building.
The service said, “MoU is a standard, globally recognised cooperation framework focused solely on technical assistance and capacity building.”
FIRS stressed that the agreement does not touch sensitive data or digital infrastructure. The statement added, “It does not grant France access to Nigerian taxpayers’ data, digital systems, or any element of our operational infrastructure.”
The service noted that Nigerian laws on data protection and cybersecurity remain fully in force. It said, “All existing Nigerian laws on data protection, cybersecurity, and sovereignty remain fully applicable and strictly enforced.”
FIRS further stated that national security remains a top priority under both the current agency and the emerging Nigeria Revenue Service.
It said, “ 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.”
According to the agency, the partnership is designed to benefit from France’s long experience in digital systems, governance, and taxpayer services, while keeping full control in Nigeria’s hands.
It said, “It is advisory, non-intrusive, and entirely under Nigeria’s control. Contrary to misconceptions, the MoU does not displace local technology providers.”
FIRS added that Nigerian firms remain central to its operations. It added, “FIRS and the emerging Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) continue to work closely with Nigerian innovators such as NIBSS, Interswitch, PayStack, and Flutterwave.”
The agency also clarified that the agreement does not involve the delivery of technical services. “The MoU does not include the provision of technical services; it is limited to knowledge sharing, institutional strengthening, workforce development, policy support, and best-practice guidance.”
FIRS concluded by calling for informed public discussions, noting that the agreement supports Nigeria’s goal of building a strong and independent tax system.
It said, “We welcome robust public engagement on tax reforms, but such conversations must reflect the actual content and purpose of the agreement.”
