FIRS Rejects Atiku’s Allegations On TSA Collections, Says No Company Has Exclusive Control

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has refuted claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar alleging that a private firm, Xpress Payments, was granted exclusive control of Nigeria’s national revenue-collection system.

In a statement 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.”

FIRS clarified that it does not operate a single revenue-collection gateway and has not given any company monopoly over the system. According to the agency, it uses a multi-channel, multi-Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) model that includes platforms such as Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave and XpressPay.

“These PSSPs operate within a transparent, competitive framework aimed at making tax payments easier and more efficient nationwide,” the service stated.

The agency stressed that PSSPs are not collection agents and do not receive processing fees or percentages from government revenues. All payments made through these platforms, it added, go directly into the Federation Account without diversion or private control.

Atoyebi outlined key aspects of the current system, including the expansion to multiple PSSPs, improved monitoring for accountability, and new opportunities created in the fintech sector through competition and innovation. She further noted that the onboarding of PSSPs follows a fair and verifiable process open to all operators.

FIRS also underscored that the ongoing national tax reforms led by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms are crucial to modernising Nigeria’s economy and should not be dragged into partisan debates.

“The reform has come to stay and should not be mischaracterised for political gain,” the statement added.

Urging political actors to refrain from spreading misinformation or raising undue alarm, FIRS reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, professionalism, and strengthening Nigeria’s revenue-collection framework for the benefit of all citizens.