The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has clarified that it does not operate any exclusive or single-gateway revenue-collection arrangement.
It also added no private entity has been granted a monopoly over government revenues.
Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the Chairman of FIRS, Aderonke Atoyebi made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday while responding to allegations made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
She noted: “The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has noted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent comments regarding the appointment of Xpress Payments as one of the channels used in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) revenue collection system.
“His assertions are incorrect, misleading, and risk unnecessarily politicising a purely administrative and technical process.
“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.
“The facts are as follows: The FIRS currently utilises a multi-channel, multi-Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) collection framework, which includes several long-established platforms.”
Atoyebi stressed that the platforms include Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave and XpressPay.
She explained that these PSSPs are part of an expanded, transparent, and competitive ecosystem designed to make tax payment easier and more efficient for Nigerians across the country.
Atoyebi further clarified that PSSPs are not collection agents and do not earn a processing fee per payment, nor a percentage of revenues.
She stressed that all revenues collected through these channels go directly into the Federation Account, without diversion, intermediaries, or private control.
The agency said no PSSP has access to, or custody of, government funds.
On opening up the scheme to multiple PSSPs, Atoyebi said the system has been deliberately broadened to give taxpayers more options and eliminate the dominance of any single provider.
She emphasised that streamlined monitoring and reporting process ensures greater accountability and enhances national revenue performance.
She added that the ongoing national tax reform, led by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic modernisation.
Atoyebi noted that tt is grounded in transparency, efficiency, and broad stakeholder engagement. This reform cannot and should not be dragged into partisan controversy.
“We therefore urge Mr. Atiku Abubakar and other political actors to refrain from mischaracterising routine administrative processes for political gain. Nigeria’s tax system is too important to be subjected to misinformation or unnecessary alarm,”she said.