…Says It Breaches Nigeria’s Sovereignty
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised serious concerns over the recent digital tax agreement between Nigeria and France.
In a reaction on Sunday, the party expressed support for efforts to modernise the country’s tax system.
It however said the process by which the tax deal with France was reached raised serious questions about transparency, national sovereignty, and the protection of Nigerians’ data.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), during the past week, signed a digital tax Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, at the French embassy in Abuja.
The agreement was formalised by FIRS’ Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, and the French Ambassador, Marc Fonbaustier.
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration between the two agencies, focusing on strengthening tax administration, advancing digital processes, and building institutional capacity.
But in a statement by the spokesman of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party called on the Federal Government to make full public disclosure of the details of the agreement or have the deal terminated.
The party said it has carefully reviewed expert opinions on the
MoU on digital tax reform and revenue administration the Nigerian government signed with its French counterpart.
“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.
“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, especially given the manner in which it was hurriedly and secretly packaged.
“Tax matters are about business, not charity. In entering into this business agreement, the FIRS has told us what Nigeria stands to benefit. However, it has failed to tell us what France stands to benefit from this deal,” the ADC said.
The party wondered why the Federal Government would enter into such a serious agreement, which potentially infringes on national security and the sovereignty of the nation.
It further raised questions about the failure of the government to publicly disclose the full terms of the deal, and signing it without carrying Nigerians along.
The ADC said it called for suspicion that such a deal could be signed with another country without the executive arm engaging the National Assembly.
Raising further suspicion about Nigeria’s involvement with France in the tax deal, the ADC noted recent decisions by many of France’s former colonies to severing economic ties with the country.
“More fundamentally, we cannot ignore the broader political context of this agreement. Across West Africa, France’s role and influence are being openly questioned.
“Former French colonies are loosening or severing their neo-colonial ties with the country. Yet, under the Bola Tinubu administration, Nigeria appears to have become more Francophone than the French.
“Nigeria’s local content policy was designed to encourage the development of national human capital and to reduce capital flight by promoting domestic industries, especially in the provision of services.
“With the plethora of competent and globally acclaimed national service providers in this sector, why does President Tinubu prefer to promote his French connection rather than local capacities?
“These tax reforms should provide opportunities to strengthen national institutions and build local capacity, not to create new dependencies or hand over strategic control of our economic intelligence to external actors,” the ADC said.
The party called for the full publication of the agreement, proper briefing of the National Assembly, and an independent assessment of the implications of the MoU for data security, cybersecurity, and national sovereignty.
“The details of this closed-door arrangement must be published for all to see, or be terminated,” the ADC emphasised.
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