The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFIP) to expand cooperation on tax administration and strengthen institutional capacity ahead of FIRS’ transition to the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) next month. The agreement was formalised on Wednesday at the French Embassy in Abuja.
FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, who signed on behalf of the Nigerian government, said the partnership marks a decisive step in the effort to build more resilient, technology-driven, and future-focused tax systems in both countries.
Adedeji, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, identified digital transformation as one of the most critical areas of collaboration. He noted that Nigeria stands to benefit from France’s advanced experience in technology-enabled compliance management, taxpayer services, and data-driven enforcement mechanisms.
According to him, the cooperation will also benefit France, particularly through exposure to Nigeria’s fast-growing digital ecosystem, rapid adoption of new tools, and innovative solutions tailored to a youthful, technology-oriented population.
He explained that this exchange of expertise is vital as both countries confront emerging global challenges such as artificial intelligence deployment, cybersecurity threats, and the complexities of cross-border taxation.
The FIRS boss added that Nigeria intends to broaden engagements with global tax partners to ensure its revenue institutions adopt global best practices. He described the MoU as a framework that allows both nations to share innovations, exchange ideas, and learn from each other’s operational experiences.
He also highlighted human capital development as a major component of the agreement. While Nigeria hopes to tap into France’s structured professional systems, continuous learning models, and strong organisational culture, he said DGFIP could equally gain insights from Nigeria’s experience managing a youthful and diverse workforce.
The collaboration will further cover international taxation, exchange of information, transfer pricing issues, and work related to Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). Adedeji emphasised that in an era where economic activities transcend borders, coordinated efforts, intelligence sharing, and harmonised approaches are essential for effective tax administration.
“As Nigeria moves into the era of the Nigeria Revenue Service, we see this partnership as a cornerstone of our transformation, one that will help us build a revenue administration that is modern, trusted, innovative, and globally connected,” he said.
