The Impacthive Centre for Accountability, Democracy and Rights has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Inland Revenue Service to release details of key agreements and appointments, citing the Freedom of Information Act.

In a letter addressed to the FIRS Executive Chairman at the agency’s Abuja headquarters, ICADAR requested that FIRS disclose specific documents and information on its tax agreement with France within seven working days of receiving the request, in line with statutory requirements.

The letter was signed by ICADAR’s Executive Director, Dr. Bello Ishaq.

It said the request was intended to draw public attention to issues surrounding international cooperation agreements and revenue collection processes within Nigeria’s tax system.

ICADAR added that the demand was made “in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act,” stressing that compliance within the stipulated timeframe was mandatory.

Among the information requested is “a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between the FIRS and the French tax authority, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques.

ICADAR also sought full disclosure on the engagement of a private firm involved in revenue collection.
In particular, the organisation requested details of “the procedure followed in the appointment of Xpress Payment Solutions Limited as a Treasury Single Account collecting agent.”

It further called for transparency on the company’s ownership and financial entitlements, asking for “information on the individuals behind Xpress Payment Solutions Limited and the percentage of revenue the firm is authorised to retain as fees for its services.”

The advocacy group demanded the information be released by the legal deadline,holding FIRS to its explicit obligations under the FOI Act.

In the letter, ICADAR clearly stated: “Please furnish us with the requested information within the stipulated period as mandated by the Act.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Redemption Party has voiced strong objections to two recent government actions: the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the French Directorate Générale des Finances Publiques, and the appointment of Xpress Payment Solutions Limited as a collecting agent for the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account.

In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Falalu Bello, the party condemned both actions as “reckless” and a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, economy, and security. It argued that the FIRS-DGFP MoU, which focuses on digital transformation and information exchange, essentially outsources national tax data management to a foreign government.

“Despite the public statement by the FIRS defending the MoU, our concerns and objections regarding the agreement remain fully valid until the content of the MoU is made public,” the statement read.