The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised serious concerns about the recently signed digital tax agreement between Nigeria and France, warning it could undermine national sovereignty and data security.
In a statement on Sunday, the opposition party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, called for the immediate publication of the full terms of the agreement—or its termination—citing a lack of transparency and public consultation.
The ADC acknowledged Nigeria’s need to modernize its tax system but argued that reforms must not come at the expense of accountability or national interest. It criticized the secrecy surrounding the deal, signed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and highlighted expert opinions warning of risks to Nigeria’s strategic economic information.
“Taxation is a business transaction that must be based on mutual benefit and openness,” the ADC stated, questioning what France stands to gain from the agreement. The party also expressed concern over Nigeria’s growing alignment with France amid rising resistance to French influence in West Africa.
Additionally, the ADC questioned why the Tinubu administration would favor foreign involvement over local expertise, especially given Nigeria’s pool of qualified professionals in the sector.
It urged the government to prioritize transparency and national interest in all international agreements.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
