The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has rejected claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the appointment of Xpress Payments as a payment channel for federal revenue collection was politically motivated or amounted to a monopoly.
In a statement on Sunday, Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Chairman, described Atiku’s assertion as “incorrect, misleading, and capable of politicising a purely administrative and technical issue.” She emphasised that the agency has not granted any private entity exclusive control over government revenue.
Atoyebi clarified that FIRS currently utilises multiple Payment Solution Service Providers (PSSPs), including Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave, and XpressPay, to simplify tax payments and expand accessibility for taxpayers nationwide. She stressed that these providers do not act as revenue collectors nor retain any percentage of the funds.
“All revenues collected through these platforms go directly into the Federation Account without diversion or private control,” she said. “No PSSP has access to government funds.”
According to FIRS, the multi-platform system was deliberately designed to prevent dominance by any single service, strengthen transparency, encourage innovation within Nigeria’s financial technology sector, and ensure accountability in revenue administration.
The agency reiterated that its revenue-collection process is strictly administrative, structured to enhance efficiency, and free from political bias. FIRS assured taxpayers that all payments are secure and that the service continues to prioritise inclusivity and technological innovation in revenue mobilisation.
