Tax collection system not politicised – FIRS

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dismissed comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding the appointment of Xpress Payments as one of the channels used in national revenue collection. In a statement issued on Sunday by Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, the agency described […]

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dismissed comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding the appointment of Xpress Payments as one of the channels used in national revenue collection.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, the agency described Atiku’s remarks as inaccurate and capable of creating misunderstanding about the agency’s operations.

FIRS said its revenue-collection framework does not grant monopoly to any private entity and operates strictly through a multi-channel system.

“His assertions are incorrect, misleading, and risk unnecessarily politicising a purely administrative and technical process,” the statement said.

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Atoyebi explained that the FIRS currently uses multiple Payment Solution Service Providers (PSSPs), including Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave and XpressPay, as part of a wider effort to make tax payment easier and more efficient for Nigerians.

“For clarity, the FIRS does not operate any exclusive or single-gateway revenue-collection arrangement, and no private entity has been granted a monopoly over government revenues,” the statement said.

The agency also clarified that PSSPs do not act as revenue collectors and do not earn a percentage of government income. “All revenues collected through these channels go directly into the Federation Account, without diversion, intermediaries, or private control. No PSSP has access to, or custody of, government funds,” it added.

Highlighting the key features of the current collection framework, FIRS said the system was expanded to eliminate the dominance of any single platform, improve accountability and support innovation and job creation in the financial technology sector.

Atoyebi noted that onboarding of PSSPs is done through a transparent and verifiable process that ensures fairness and equal opportunity for all participants.

She said the ongoing national tax reform, driven by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, is central to modernising Nigeria’s economy and should not be drawn into political debates.

“This reform has come to stay and should not be dragged into partisan controversy,” the statement said.

The FIRS urged political actors to avoid mischaracterising routine administrative processes, adding that the tax administration system “is too important to be subjected to misinformation or unnecessary alarm.”

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, transparency and strengthening national revenue systems in the interest of Nigerians.