Tinubu Under Scrutiny as FIRS–France Partnership Sparks Fears of External Influence

West Africa WeeklyDecember 12, 20252 Mins read44

For many Nigerians, the news that the Federal Inland Revenue Service has entered a new partnership with the French tax authority felt less like a step forward and more like a quiet warning sign. The agreement, framed by officials as a boost to digital transformation and modern tax administration, has stirred questions about why Nigeria is leaning so heavily on France at a moment when the country is struggling with public trust, rising taxes, and growing complaints about government overreach.

The deal gives France a formal role in shaping parts of Nigeria’s tax modernisation agenda. It encompasses digital systems, information exchange, staff training, and long-term institutional cooperation. On paper, it looks harmless, even progressive. But the timing and the political climate have made many Nigerians uneasy.

France has a long history of deep involvement in African financial systems, especially in Francophone West Africa. Even outside its former colonies, France has maintained a reputation for wielding significant economic influence. So, when Nigeria, a country proud of its financial independence, begins signing agreements that allow a foreign government to help design, advise, or influence its tax structure, people naturally ask what the trade-off is.

Government officials present the partnership as a strategy to modernise tax administration and reduce leakages. However, many Nigerians argue that it exposes a recurring weakness. Instead of building strong local institutions, Nigeria continues to outsource sensitive systems to foreign partners. The concern is not simply about cooperation. It is about control. Tax data, national revenue architecture, and digital systems are not ordinary assets. They sit at the heart of a country’s sovereignty.

The unease has deepened because it comes alongside another controversy. The recent appointment of Xpress Payments as a major tax collection agent has raised concerns about potential monopolies and private interests gaining excessive influence over federal revenue. For many Nigerians, the fear is that the tax system is becoming a playground for both foreign governments and local business interests.

Taken together, these developments paint a picture of a revenue system moving in a direction ordinary citizens do not fully trust. While government agencies insist that the partnership with France is simply a technical collaboration, the opacity surrounding these deals feeds suspicion. Why France? Why now? And why does every reform seem to give more leverage to actors outside the public’s reach?

In a country where tax rates are rising, purchasing power is falling, and public services are deteriorating, people want reassurance that reforms are being made to benefit them, not foreign institutions or politically connected companies. Until the government provides clear, transparent explanations, the sense that Nigeria is slowly bending toward external influence will only grow stronger.

This partnership may help modernise the tax system. It may even bring in proper tools. But it also reflects a deeper problem inside the Nigerian state. When institutions weaken, foreign governments and private companies step in. What appears to be cooperation today can quietly become dependency tomorrow. And that is the fear many Nigerians cannot shake.