FIRS debunks Atiku’s claims, warns against playing politics with tax administration

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says the comments of Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria regarding the appointment of Xpress Payments as one of the channels used in national revenue collection system are incorrect.

FIRS says the comments are misleading, and risk unnecessarily politicising a purely administrative and technical process.

In a statement signed Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, the technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of FIRS, the service said it does not operate any exclusive or single-gateway revenue-collection arrangement, and no private entity has been granted a monopoly over government revenues.

“The FIRS currently utilises a multi-channel, multi-Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) collection framework, which includes several long-established platforms,” the statement revealed.

“These include: Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave, and XpressPay.
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“The commission explained that these PSSPs are part of an expanded, transparent, and competitive ecosystem designed to make tax payment easier and more efficient for Nigerians across the country. Also, PSSPs are not collection agents and do not earn a processing fee per payment, nor a percentage of revenues.”

FIRS also stated that all revenues collected through these channels go directly into the Federation Account, without diversion, intermediaries, or private control and that no PSSP has access to, or custody of, government funds.

The service also highlighted features of the collection framework in the statement to include, Opening up the scheme to multiple PSSPs.

“The system has been deliberately broadened to give taxpayers more options and eliminate the dominance of any single provider,” the statement said.

The service also noted that efficiency would be improved in the new framewor since a streamlined monitoring and reporting process ensures greater accountability and enhances national revenue performance.

The service also maintained that the framework would also support job creation and transparency.

“We therefore urge Atiku Abubakar and other political actors to refrain from mischaracterising routine administrative processes for political gain. Nigeria’s tax system is too important to be subjected to misinformation or unnecessary alarm,” FIRS said.

The FIRS said it remains fully committed to professionalism, transparency, and the continued strengthening of national revenue systems for the benefit of all Nigerians.