NEF seeks end of Nigeria-France Tax Data Deal, warns of sovereignty threat

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called for the immediate termination of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the French tax authority, warning that it poses a severe risk to the country’s economic sovereignty and national security.

In an open letter addressed to the Federal Government and the National Assembly, the Forum described the agreement as a “dangerous tax data agreement” that grants France access to Nigeria’s sensitive tax infrastructure.

NEF Spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jika Jiddere, cautioned that the deal could expose Nigeria to economic manipulation, foreign control, and long-term dependency.

The Forum warned that France’s historical engagements in Africa have often led to economic and political domination, and Nigeria must avoid repeating the mistakes of other African nations.

It stressed that taxpayer data represents national power and allowing foreign control over it is a direct threat to security.

NEF further criticized the agreement for bypassing legislative scrutiny and failing to protect Nigeria’s local technology sector, which includes globally recognized fintech companies.

The group issued a final warning against replacing “colonialism with digital colonialism.”

The Forum demanded that the government:

· Terminate the FIRS-France MoU immediately.

· Keep Nigeria’s tax data entirely within the country.

· Contract only Nigerian-owned technology firms to manage tax infrastructure.

· Pass pending data-sovereignty legislation before the Nigeria Revenue Service begins operations in January 2026.

· Prohibit any foreign entity from processing or storing Nigeria’s tax data.

NEF vowed to oppose the deal using all available constitutional and civic means, declaring the issue a matter of national survival.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

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.

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