The African Democratic Congress has decried President Bola Tinubu’s digital tax deal with France, accusing him of corruption.
“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 ADC has carefully reviewed expert opinions on the recent agreement on digital tax reform and revenue administration signed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, 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,” said ADc In a statement on Sunday.
The statement came days after the Federal Inland Revenue Service signed a landmark cooperation pact with France, intended to modernise Nigeria’s tax administration through digital transformation, capacity development, and improved cross-border enforcement.
The agreement took place just weeks before the January 1, 2026, implementation of new national tax policies introduced by the federal government.
However, the ADC faulted the manner in which the deal was hurriedly and secretly packaged and accused FIRS of failure to explain the intricacies of the agreement to Nigerians.
While acknowledging that FIRS had explained what Nigeria stands to benefit from the deal, the opposition party said the tax body had failed to explain what France stands to benefit from the agreement.
“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?” the opposition said.
It accused Mr Tinubu of promoting his French connection at a time when the country’s former colonies are loosening their neo-colonial ties with the country, adding that tax reforms should provide opportunities that would strengthen national institutions and build local capacity, not to create new dependencies or hand over strategic control of our economic intelligence to external actors.
The party demanded full disclosure of the agreement’s terms and conditions, insisting that the details be made public or that the agreement be terminated.
“The ADC is therefore calling for the full publication of this agreement, proper briefing of the National Assembly, and an independent assessment of its implications for data security, cybersecurity, and national sovereignty. The details of this closed-door arrangement must be published for all to see, or be terminated,” it stated.
