Reacting to the tax pact with France, the civil society group said Nigeria’s challenge is not whether to learn from global best practices, but doing so without undermining public trust or national sovereignty.
FixPolitics Initiative, a prominent civil society organization has demanded immediate transparency from the Federal Government following public outcry over a tax administration agreement with France, warning that Nigeria’s sovereignty and citizens’ trust hang in the balance.
FixPolitics, a democracy advocacy group, issued a strongly-worded statement calling on the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to publish the complete Memorandum of Understanding signed with France’s tax authority, rejecting government assurances as insufficient without full disclosure.
The controversy erupted after news emerged of the technical cooperation agreement, which FIRS describes as focused on capacity building and digital transformation of Nigeria’s tax system. However, the lack of prior public communication and the reactive nature of official explanations have fueled widespread anxiety among Nigerians.
“Tax administration sits at the heart of state sovereignty, public trust, and citizens’ rights and daily survival,” said Anthony Ubani, Executive Director of FixPolitics. “Any agreement touching this sensitive space must therefore be handled with the highest standards of openness, accountability, democratic oversight, and care.”
Reacting to the tax pact with France, the civil society group said Nigeria’s challenge is not whether to learn from global best practices, but doing so without undermining public trust or national sovereignty.
The organization expressed particular concern that official statements came only after public backlash, rather than as part of a proactive communication strategy for such a critical decision affecting citizens’ daily existence, personal data, and national interests.
“We particularly note that the official statements were reactive, in response to the public outcry, not a well-considered and intentional communication to inform Nigerians,” the statement read. “FixPolitics recognises that the public anxiety is understandable.”
The group emphasized that transparency remains “the only antidote to misinformation, speculation, and fear,” insisting that the Federal Government’s interpretation of the MoU’s content and intent does not suffice without full publication of the document.
While acknowledging the potential value of international technical cooperation, FixPolitics warned that reforms must strengthen democracy and protect citizens’ rights rather than compromise them. The organization pledged to continue engaging citizens, policymakers, and institutions to ensure public systems serve the long-term national interest.
The statement arrives at a sensitive time for Nigeria’s tax reform agenda, with the government seeking to broaden the tax base and improve collection efficiency amid fiscal pressures. However, the France agreement has touched a nerve in a nation historically wary of foreign influence in sovereign matters.
As calls for transparency intensify, the Federal Government faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that international partnerships enhance rather than diminish Nigeria’s autonomy in managing one of the state’s most fundamental functions.
