Our Reporter, Abuja
Lawyers for Civil Liberties (LACIVLER Development Foundation) has formally requested access to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP).
In a letter dated December 17, 2025, and addressed to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, the civil rights organisation invoked Sections 2, 5, 21 and other relevant provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, to demand disclosure of the agreement.
LACIVLER said the request was aimed at promoting transparency and enabling the public to understand the scope and implications of the partnership between Nigeria’s tax authority and its French counterpart.
The organisation, which is committed to defending civil liberties and promoting accountability in public institutions, commended FIRS for its efforts at modernising tax administration and adopting digital solutions to enhance efficiency and public trust.
According to LACIVLER, access to the MoU would help clarify how the collaboration supports Nigeria’s national interests, while also ensuring the protection of taxpayer information and the country’s fiscal sovereignty.
“This request is made in a spirit of partnership and transparency, to highlight FIRS’s positive initiatives and strengthen public confidence in the revenue system,” the group stated.
The letter was signed by the National Coordinator of LACIVLER, Opatola Victor, who expressed optimism that FIRS would respond positively in line with the provisions of the FOI Act.
As of the time of filing this report, FIRS had not issued a public response to the request.
