The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has called for caution in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and France’s tax authority, the Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP).
It will be recalled that on December 10, 2025, Nigeria’s FIRS and France’s DGFiP signed an MoU, which the Federal Government sees as signaling a new era of cooperation, but which the NCS says may portend a potential compromise of Nigeria’s digital sovereignty.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to modernise Nigeria’s tax administration through technical assistance and capacity building.
While the FIRS insists that no foreign entity will have access to taxpayer data or infrastructure, the professional ICT community is sounding an alarm about the “hidden costs” of international digital partnerships.
A primary point of contention is the secrecy surrounding the deal. According to the NCS position paper, the MoU was concluded without proactive public disclosure of its full terms.
“This lack of transparency has heightened public suspicion,” the Society noted in a statement signed by the President, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, highlighting that without a public debate, the government risks eroding trust in its handling of data-sensitive agreements.
The President pointed out that NCS’ concern is not just about what is in the document, but what could happen in the future after the signing. Some stakeholders worry that technical collaboration could serve as a ‘backdoor’ for data exposure or indirect access to sensitive systems.
Buttressing its point, the NCS explained digital sovereignty as a nation’s absolute right to govern its own data and infrastructure, while protecting citizens from unauthorised foreign access.
The Society argues that National Ownership is Non-Negotiable hence public data must remain under Nigerian juridical control.
Furthermore, there is a growing fear that such MoUs marginalise local tech providers and weaken the incentive to develop homegrown digital solutions, thereby undermining the “Local Talent Over Foreign Solutions”
The NCS also talked about the need for data localisation, noting that critical economic data should be stored and processed within Nigerian jurisdiction to prevent foreign jurisdictional claims. It pointed out that the Society is not just criticising, but proposing a roadmap for a more secure digital economy.
Led by President Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, the Society is calling for a National Data Sovereignty Policy.
Some of the key recommendations from the ICT body include:
- Legislative Oversight: Before any data-related MoU is operationalized, it should undergo public hearings and a review by the National Assembly.
- Mandatory Risk Assessments: Every international collaboration should require a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) to document mitigation plans for privacy risks.
- Indigenous Investment: Instead of relying solely on foreign advisory, the government should fund indigenous software platforms and incentivize partnerships with Nigerian tech firms”.
Nigeria stands at a pivotal point in its digital transformation. While global cooperation can bolster institutional capacity, the NCS insists it must never come at the expense of national security or the rights of citizens.
As the Society continues to monitor the FIRS-France agreement, its message to the government is clear: international partnerships are valuable, but only if they are anchored in a secure, equitable, and domestically controlled framework.
