The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has rubbished the claim by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed a private firm, Xpress Payments, for the exclusive right in Nigeria’s national revenue-collection system.
Atiku had condemned the alleged appointment of Xpress, saying it was a replica of Alpha-Beta that processes internally-generated revenue for Lagos State at a 15 percent commission, despite public outcries.
In a statement issued by Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Executive Chairman, the agency described Atiku’s comments as “incorrect, misleading, and capable of unnecessarily politicising a purely administrative and technical process.”
The service clarified that it does not operate a single-gateway channel for collecting government revenues, noting that no company has monopoly or privileged control over the process.
According to the statement, the FIRS currently uses a multi-channel, multi-Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) framework that includes several established platforms such as Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave and XpressPay.
“These PSSPs are part of a transparent and competitive ecosystem designed to make tax payment easier and more efficient for Nigerians nationwide,” the agency said.
It added that PSSPs are not designated as collection agents and do not earn processing fees or percentages from revenues.
All payments made through the platforms, it stressed, go directly into the Federation Account without diversion, intermediaries or private control.
Atoyebi highlighted key features of the current collection framework, including the deliberate expansion of the system to allow multiple PSSPs, improved monitoring for better accountability, and increased opportunities within the financial-technology sector through innovation and competition.
She noted that the onboarding of PSSPs follows a clear and verifiable process that ensures fairness and equal opportunity for all operators.
The FIRS also emphasised that ongoing national tax reforms under the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms are central to Nigeria’s economic modernisation and should not be dragged into partisan disputes.
“The reform has come to stay and should not be subjected to mischaracterisation for political gain,” the statement read.
The agency urged political actors, including Atiku, to avoid spreading misinformation or raising unnecessary alarm around routine administrative procedures.
FIRS reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, transparency and the continuous strengthening of Nigeria’s revenue-collection system for the benefit of all citizens.
