African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the recently unveiled digital tax agreement between Nigeria and France, warning that the pact, rather than strengthening Nigeria’s fiscal system, could undermine national sovereignty, compromise data security and deepen foreign control over sensitive economic information.
While acknowledging the need to modernise Nigeria’s tax architecture, the opposition party said the secrecy surrounding the agreement raises red flags that cannot be ignored. It insisted that reforms meant to improve revenue generation must not be pursued at the expense of transparency, accountability and national interest.
ADC, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, demanded the immediate publication of the full terms of the agreement or its outright termination.
According to the ADC, expert assessments of the deal, signed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on behalf of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration with the government of France, have pointed to serious dangers inherent in the arrangement.
“The ADC has carefully reviewed expert opinions on the recent agreement on digital tax reform and revenue administration signed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on behalf of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, with the government of France.
“Quite significantly, we note the overwhelming concern that the agreement potentially endangers Nigeria’s data security and exposes strategic national economic information to foreign exploitation. Attempts by the FIRS to explain these concerns away have failed to convince anyone that the agreement was done in the nation’s best interest, especially given the manner in which it was hurriedly and secretly packaged,” the party stated.
The ADC argued that taxation is fundamentally a business transaction that must be guided by mutual benefit and openness, noting that Nigerians have been left in the dark about what France stands to gain from the deal.
“Tax matters are about business, not charity. In entering into this business agreement, the FIRS has told us what Nigeria stands to benefit. However, it has failed to tell us what France stands to benefit from this deal. Why did the Federal Government of Nigeria enter into a serious agreement such as this, which potentially infringes on national security and sovereignty, without public disclosure of its full terms, without open engagement with the National Assembly, and without any meaningful effort to carry Nigerians along?” ADC queried.
Beyond the technical concerns, the party said the agreement must also be viewed within the wider geopolitical dynamics unfolding across West Africa, where French influence is increasingly being resisted.
“More fundamentally, we cannot ignore the broader political context of this agreement. Across West Africa, France’s role and influence are being openly questioned. Former French colonies are loosening or severing their neo-colonial ties with the country. Yet, under the Bola Tinubu administration, Nigeria appears to have become more Francophone than the French,” it said.
The ADC further questioned why the Federal Government would sideline Nigeria’s local expertise in favour of foreign involvement, especially in a sector where competent Nigerian professionals abound.
“Nigeria’s local content policy was designed to encourage the development of national human capital and to reduce capital flight by promoting domestic industries, especially in the provision of services. With the plethora of competent and globally acclaimed national service providers in this sector, why does President Tinubu prefer to promote his French connection rather than local capacities?” the party asked.
