The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Sunday called for the immediate termination of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and France’s tax authority, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP).
The forum warned that the agreement could pose risks to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and national security if not urgently reviewed.
In an open letter addressed to the federal government, the Senate and the House of Representatives, NEF described the MoU as a “dangerous tax data agreement” capable of exposing sensitive economic information to foreign access.
The letter, signed by the forum’s spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jika Jiddere, stated that the agreement goes beyond technical cooperation and could create what it termed “an unprotected gateway into the heart of Nigeria’s tax infrastructure.”
According to the forum, the development raises serious concerns about data protection and national interest.
“The Northern Elders Forum writes today with grave concern and a deep sense of patriotic duty,” the letter read. “Nigeria stands at a crossroads, facing decisions that could affect its economic sovereignty, national security and collective dignity as an independent African nation.”
“Yesterday’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the French tax authority, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP), is not a harmless technical collaboration.
“It is a direct, unprotected gateway into the heart of Nigeria’s tax infrastructure, placing our most sensitive economic data into the hands of a foreign power whose engagements across Africa have historically led to economic manipulation, political pressure, and strategic domination.”
The NEF said that granting a foreign government access to Nigeria’s tax data undermines the country’s economic independence and places its fiscal future at risk.
The elders warned that France’s historical engagements in Africa have often resulted in economic manipulation, political pressure and long-term dependency, urging Nigeria not to repeat what they described as past mistakes made by other African nations.
Jiddere added, “Wherever its influence has settled, African countries have fought for decades to reclaim economic independence. Several nations after long periods of economic sabotage, extractive policies, and political interference pushed France out of their internal systems because they realized too late the price of dependency.
“Nigeria must not walk into the same trap with open eyes. With insecurity ravaging our communities, with the naira under pressure, with unemployment high, and with foreign interests circling Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, this is not the time to mortgage our national pride or hand over our economic soul to any foreign state.
“The FIRS-France deal is not aid. It is an entry. Entry into our economic bloodstream. Dr. Segun Adebayo, a respected national voice on data protection and fiscal independence, warned the nation months ago clearly and publicly of his keynote address “Protecting Our Tax Sovereignty” and subsequent engagements at the National Assembly.
“Taxpayer data is national power. Allowing foreign control over this data is a threat to national security.”
According to the Forum, surrendering control of tax data exposes the country to economic espionage, mass surveillance and potential geopolitical blackmail, as foreign actors could gain insight into Nigeria’s strategic sectors, revenue flows and investment patterns, adding that, “No serious country hands such power to another state.”
The Forum also criticized what it described as a failure to protect Nigeria’s local technology ecosystem, noting that Nigerian-owned companies have built globally respected fintech and digital payment platforms.
The elders further blamed the development on what they called legislative lapses, arguing that proposed data-sovereignty amendments to existing laws could have prevented the MoU without parliamentary scrutiny.
Issuing what it described as a final warning, the forum said Nigeria must not replace colonialism with “digital colonialism” or economic occupation disguised as cooperation.
As part of its demands, the NEF called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to: “Terminate the FIRS–France MoU immediately; Keep Nigeria’s tax data 100 per cent in Nigerian hands; Contract only Nigerian-owned technology companies to build and manage tax infrastructure;
“Reintroduce and pass all data-sovereignty amendments before the Nigeria Revenue Service begins operations in January 2026; and Prohibit any foreign entity from processing or storing Nigeria’s tax data.
“The Northern Elders Forum will oppose this deal with every moral, civic and constitutional tool available,” the statement said, urging the President, the National Assembly and Nigerians to act swiftly.
“This is no longer a policy issue. It is a matter of national survival,” the NEF added.
