The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the full disclosure of the digital tax reform and revenue administration agreement recently signed between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Government of France, warning that the deal could compromise Nigeria’s data security and national sovereignty.
The call was contained in a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, on Sunday and shared via his verified X account.
According to the ADC, its review of expert opinions revealed significant risks associated with the agreement, particularly the absence of transparency and public consultation. The party faulted the FIRS for failing to clearly state what France stands to gain from the deal, describing the process as secretive and hurried.
“Quite significantly, we note the overwhelming concern that the agreement potentially endangers Nigeria’s data security and exposes strategic national economic information to foreign exploitation,” the statement said. “Attempts by the FIRS to explain these concerns away have failed to convince anyone that the agreement was done in the nation’s best interest.”
The ADC stressed that while the FIRS had outlined Nigeria’s expected benefits, it had not disclosed France’s interests in the arrangement. “Tax matters are about business, not charity. In entering into this agreement, the FIRS has told us what Nigeria stands to benefit, but has failed to tell us what France stands to benefit,” the party stated.
It also questioned why the Federal Government entered into what it described as a sensitive agreement without full public disclosure, engagement with the National Assembly or adequate consultation with Nigerians.
The party further criticised the Federal Government’s deepening ties with France at a time when several West African countries are reassessing their relationships with the former colonial power. “Across West Africa, France’s influence is being openly questioned, yet under the Bola Tinubu administration, Nigeria appears to have become more Francophone than the French,” the ADC said.
Abdullahi argued that Nigeria should prioritise local content development and domestic capacity building rather than creating long-term dependencies on external partners.
Consequently, the ADC called for the full publication of the agreement, a proper briefing of the National Assembly and an independent assessment of its implications for data protection, cybersecurity and national sovereignty, warning that the deal should be terminated if these conditions are not met.
The ADC’s position follows a similar call by the Northern Elders Forum, which demanded the immediate termination of the agreement, citing concerns over Nigeria’s economic independence.
However, the FIRS has defended the Memorandum of Understanding, describing it as a standard, globally recognised cooperation framework focused on advisory support, knowledge sharing and capacity building. In a public notice, the agency said the agreement does not grant France access to individual taxpayer data or Nigeria’s digital systems and complies fully with Nigeria’s data protection laws. It also noted that the partnership does not undermine local financial technology companies such as NIBSS, Interswitch, Paystack and Flutterwave.
