The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Bola Tinubu administration over a digital tax agreement with France, warning that the deal could expose Nigeria to data security risks and undermine national sovereignty.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said that while the ADC supports initiatives aimed at modernising Nigeria’s tax system, it is deeply concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement.
The digital tax reform and revenue administration pact was signed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on behalf of the federal government in collaboration with the Government of France. However, the ADC argued that the process through which the agreement was reached was rushed and shrouded in secrecy.
According to the party, expert assessments of the deal suggest it could allow foreign access to Nigeria’s sensitive economic and tax data, raising serious questions about data protection, cybersecurity, and economic sovereignty. It added that attempts by the FIRS to dismiss these concerns have failed to address public apprehension.
The ADC questioned why such a far-reaching agreement was entered into without public disclosure of its full terms, meaningful engagement with the National Assembly, or consultations with relevant stakeholders. It also queried what France stands to gain from the partnership, noting that tax agreements are commercial arrangements that should be mutually transparent.
The party warned that any agreement with potential implications for national security must be subjected to open scrutiny. It further placed the development within the wider regional context, noting that France’s influence in West Africa is increasingly being challenged as several countries reassess long-standing relationships.
Expressing concern that Nigeria appears to be deepening its reliance on foreign partners, the ADC said such moves could undermine domestic capacity. It stressed that Nigeria’s local content policy is intended to strengthen national institutions and reduce dependence on external service providers.
The party questioned why local expertise was not prioritised in a sector where Nigerian professionals are globally competitive.
The party urged the federal government to make the agreement public, brief the National Assembly, and allow an independent review of its impact on data protection, cybersecurity and national sovereignty.
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