Tax Collection System Not Politicised, FIRS Replies Atiku

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dismissed recent comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar concerning the appointment of Xpress Payments as one of the channels used for national revenue collection.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, the agency described Atiku’s claims as inaccurate and capable of misleading the public about how Nigeria’s tax administration system operates.

FIRS stressed that its revenue-collection framework is not politicised and does not grant exclusive rights to any private company.

According to the agency, tax payments are processed through a multi-channel system involving several approved Payment Solution Service Providers (PSSPs).

“His assertions are incorrect, misleading, and risk unnecessarily politicising a purely administrative and technical process,” the statement said.

Atoyebi noted that the FIRS currently works with various PSSPs, including Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave, and XpressPay, to ensure tax payments are seamless and accessible to Nigerians.

“For clarity, the FIRS does not operate any exclusive or single-gateway revenue-collection arrangement, and no private entity has been granted a monopoly over government revenues,” she added.

The agency further clarified that PSSPs do not collect revenue on behalf of the government and do not receive a share of any funds. All payments made through these platforms, it explained, are automatically remitted into the Federation Account without diversion or third-party control.

“No PSSP has access to, or custody of, government funds,” the statement emphasized.

The FIRS urged Nigerians to disregard claims suggesting otherwise and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, efficiency, and fairness in tax administration.