The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has signed a historic cooperation agreement with France aimed at modernising Nigeria’s tax administration through digital transformation, workforce development, and strengthened cross-border enforcement.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday at the French Embassy in Abuja by FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji and the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier. The partnership comes just weeks ahead of the formal transition of FIRS into the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) in January 2026.
According to Adedeji, the agreement brings FIRS into a formal collaboration with France’s tax authority, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP), one of Europe’s most technologically advanced revenue agencies. He described the pact as a shared ambition to build “stronger, more resilient and forward-looking” tax systems amid a rapidly changing global financial landscape driven by technology, artificial intelligence, and cross-border commerce.
Digital transformation is central to the partnership, with Nigeria expected to leverage France’s experience in automated compliance systems, data-driven audits, and taxpayer service platforms. Adedeji noted that France, in turn, would benefit from Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy, youthful population, and innovative approaches in public finance.
Workforce development is another strategic focus, with Nigeria adopting France’s professional standards, continuous learning culture, and structured human capital systems, while sharing insights on managing a young and diverse workforce.
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The MoU also covers international taxation, exchange of information, transfer pricing, and tackling Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) — issues increasingly relevant to governments in an era of borderless business operations. “The ability of both our institutions to collaborate, share intelligence and harmonise approaches will be crucial,” Adedeji said.
Nigeria has struggled with low tax-to-GDP ratios in the past decade, averaging 6 to 10 per cent, well below the African average of 15 per cent. The Federal Government hopes that improved digital systems, a unified tax administration, and stronger international cooperation will boost revenue without imposing new taxes.
Adedeji said the agreement will form a cornerstone for the transition into the NRS, enabling a more transparent, technology-driven, and globally connected revenue service. “As Nigeria moves into the era of the Nigerian Revenue Service, we see this partnership as a foundation for building a modern, trusted, innovative and globally connected revenue administration,” he said.