The Federal Inland Revenue Service has dismissed claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding the selection of Xpress Payments Solutions Limited as a platform for Treasury Single Account revenue collection.
In a social media post on Sunday, Atiku criticised what he called the federal government’s “quiet appointment” of Xpress Payments, suggesting it represented a return to a “revenue cartel” akin to the Alpha Beta arrangement in Lagos State during Bola Tinubu’s governorship.
He warned that the move could turn Nigeria “from a republic to a private holding company controlled by a small circle of vested interests.”
The former vice president’s remarks followed reports that the FIRS had approved XpressPay as one of its official payment channels.
Responding on Sunday, the Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Chairman, Aderonke Atoyebi, described Atiku’s claims as “incorrect, misleading, and likely to politicise a process that is purely administrative and technical.”
She emphasized that the FIRS does not use a single-gateway system and has not awarded any private company a monopoly on federal revenue collection.
Atoyebi explained that the FIRS operates a multi-channel framework with several payment service providers, including established digital platforms like Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave, and XpressPay.
She said these platforms form part of a transparent ecosystem designed to make tax payments easier and more efficient for Nigerians.
She emphasized that payment service providers are not collection agents and do not receive fees based on payment volume or a percentage of government revenue.
All funds processed through these channels are transferred directly into the Federation Account, without any diversion or private custody.
“Also, PSSPs are NOT collection agents and DO NOT earn a processing fee per payment, nor a percentage of revenues. Crucially, all revenues collected through these channels go directly into the Federation Account, without diversion, intermediaries, or private control. No PSSP has access to, or custody of, government funds,” she stated.
Atoyebi noted that the TSA framework is intended to boost efficiency, create jobs, broaden market opportunities, and maintain transparent onboarding procedures. She also highlighted that Nigeria’s ongoing national tax reform, spearheaded by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, is built on principles of transparency, efficiency, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
“It is grounded in transparency, efficiency, and broad stakeholder engagement. This reform cannot and should not be dragged into partisan controversy,” she said.
Atoyebi urged Atiku and other political leaders to refrain from mischaracterizing routine administrative processes for political purposes, stressing that misinformation should not compromise the integrity of Nigeria’s tax system. She reaffirmed the FIRS’ dedication to professionalism, transparency, and the ongoing enhancement of revenue systems for the benefit of all Nigerians.
