Federal Inland Revenue Service, French Tax Agency Partner On Digital Transformation, Others

Prepared to take off on a firm footing when it transitions into the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) next month, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and its French counterpart, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFP), on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding on areas of mutual interest and the promotion of efficient tax administration.

Speaking at the French Embassy in Abuja, where the event took place, FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, who signed the pact on behalf of FIRS, said the event reflected a shared commitment to building stronger, more resilient, and forward-looking tax administrations for the two countries.

The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, who signed on behalf of DGFP, emphasised the importance of collaboration between the two countries.

Adedeji, in a statement by Dare Adekanmbi, his special adviser on media, listed digital transformation as one of such critical areas where Nigeria could leverage France’s advanced use of technology in compliance management, taxpayer services, and data-driven enforcement.

According to him, France will in return gain “fresh perspectives from Nigeria’s rapid digital expansion, our agile adoption of new tools, and the unique solutions we are developing for a fast-growing, technology-driven population.”

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

Revealing that Nigeria will deliberately engage more with similar global partners, he stated that the partnership between France and Nigeria would enable tax institutions to exchange ideas, share innovations, and learn from each other’s experiences.

“Another critical 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 organisational discipline, we also believe that our experience in managing a young, dynamic, and diverse workforce will offer valuable insights to DGFP.

“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

The statement quoted Adedeji as saying that, as Nigeria moves into the era of the Nigeria Revenue Service, the partnership with France would serve as a cornerstone of the country’s transformation, helping to build a revenue administration that is modern, trusted, innovative, and globally connected.