The Federal Inland Revenue Service has entered into a memorandum of understanding with France’s Directorate General of Public Finances to enhance efficient tax administration.

The DGFP, a key agency of the French government, is responsible for managing public finances, including tax collection and administration.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the French Embassy in Abuja, according to Dare Adekanmbi, special adviser on media to the FIRS chairman.

FIRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while, the French ambassador,
Marc Fonbaustier, represented the DGFP.

Commenting on the agreement, Adedeji said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing “stronger, more resilient, and forward-looking tax administrations” in both countries.

He highlighted digital transformation as a major area of collaboration, noting that Nigeria could gain from France’s experience in leveraging technology for taxpayer services, compliance management, and data-driven enforcement.

“This two-way exchange is essential as both countries adapt to emerging challenges such as Artificial Intelligence deployment, cybersecurity, and cross-border taxation,” Adedeji was quoted as saying.

The FIRS chairman stated that Nigeria intends to deepen engagement with global partners, emphasizing that the collaboration with France will enable both tax authorities to share ideas, exchange innovations, and learn from each other.

“Another important aspect is workforce development. While we look forward to learning from France’s well-structured human capital systems, particularly in professional standards, continuous learning, and organizational discipline, we also believe that our experience in managing a young, dynamic and diverse workforce will offer valuable insights to DGFIP.

“Together, we can develop models that strengthen institutional culture, build global competencies, and prepare our respective institutions for the future of public finance administration.

“We also anticipate strong bilateral cooperation in international taxation, exchange of information, transfer pricing, and Base Erosion and Profit Shifting BEPS-related work.

“As economic activities become increasingly borderless, the ability of both our institutions to collaborate, share intelligence, and harmonise approaches will be crucial. This MoU provides exactly the platform we need to deepen that cooperation,” he said.

Adedeji noted that as Nigeria transitions into the era of the Nigeria Revenue Service, the partnership will serve as a cornerstone of this transformation, supporting the development of a revenue administration that is modern, trusted, innovative, and globally connected.