The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has demanded the immediate termination of a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the French tax authority, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, warning that the agreement poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and national security.
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” that could place Nigeria’s most sensitive financial information under foreign control. The letter was signed by NEF spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jiddere.
“The Northern Elders Forum writes today with grave concern and a profound sense of patriotic duty,” the letter reads. “This MoU is far from a harmless technical collaboration. It represents an unprotected gateway into the core of Nigeria’s tax infrastructure, potentially putting our most sensitive economic data in the hands of a foreign power whose historical engagements in Africa have frequently led to economic manipulation, political pressure, and strategic domination.”
The forum warned that granting France access to Nigeria’s tax data undermines the country’s economic independence and could put its fiscal future at risk. Jiddere cited Africa’s past experiences with French influence, highlighting the economic and political costs incurred by other nations that allowed foreign control over critical systems.
“Wherever its influence has taken root, African countries have spent decades struggling to reclaim economic independence,” the letter stated. “Nigeria must not walk into the same trap with open eyes. With insecurity ravaging our communities, the naira under pressure, unemployment high, and foreign interests circling our digital infrastructure, this is not the time to mortgage our national pride or hand over our economic soul to any foreign state.”
The NEF also referenced warnings from Dr. Segun Adebayo, a national advocate on data protection and fiscal independence, who cautioned that taxpayer data is national power and that allowing foreign control constitutes a serious national security threat.
According to the forum, surrendering control of tax data exposes Nigeria to economic espionage, mass surveillance, and geopolitical blackmail, giving foreign actors insight into strategic sectors, revenue flows, and investment patterns. They criticised the government for failing to leverage Nigerian-owned technology firms that have developed globally respected fintech and digital payment platforms capable of managing the nation’s tax infrastructure.
The forum further blamed legislative lapses, arguing that proposed data-sovereignty amendments to existing laws could have prevented the MoU from being signed without parliamentary scrutiny.