Adedeji Says Tax MoU With France Is Routine, Poses No Data Security Risk
Zacch Adedeji, chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), says the memorandum of understanding signed with France on tax cooperation is a routine operational agreement and does not threaten Nigeria’s data security.
Speaking on Sunday during an interview on Arise TV, Adedeji said the agreement focuses on technical cooperation in areas such as digital taxation, transfer pricing, tax system modernisation, and international tax administration.
He explained that Nigeria has similar agreements with other countries, including the United Kingdom and South Africa, adding that such partnerships are common among revenue authorities worldwide.
“The memorandum of understanding is just about operational activities that we do, not only with France,” Adedeji said.
“It is part of both the old law and the new law to facilitate interaction between us and global tax administration bodies.”
On December 10, the NRS, formerly known as the Federal Inland Revenue Service, signed the MoU with the DGFiP on promoting efficient tax administration. The DGFiP, or Directorate General of Public Finances, is a French government agency responsible for managing public finances, including taxation.
The agreement sparked public criticism, with many Nigerians questioning the involvement of the French government in Nigeria’s tax affairs.
Adedeji, however, dismissed concerns about data exposure, stressing that taxpayer information remains confidential and protected by law.
“We are not opening any of our data system to any of this external body. Here in Nigeria, except you have a court order, you can’t take another person’s tax data, because it is like medical reports,” he said.
“There is confidentiality, talk less of exposing that to national organization. So, there is nothing to fear.”
He added that the agreement is a standard operational arrangement Nigeria maintains with several international revenue administrations.
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