Atiku Accuses FIRS of Reviving ‘Revenue Cartel’ Over Xpress Payments TSA Appointment

From Marcus Nkire

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly rejected the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s decision to appoint Xpress Payment Solutions as a Treasury Single Account (TSA) agent. In a blistering public statement, Atiku warned that the move could replicate the controversial revenue collection model once seen in Lagos — suggesting the privatization of core government revenue systems.

He described the appointment as a “dangerous resurrection” of a cartel, alleging that politically connected private companies are now being inserted between taxpayers and the federal government. For Atiku, the decision — made quietly and without broad consultation — risks undermining transparency and accountability in public finance.

Atiku called for an immediate suspension of the appointment and demanded a full public inquiry into the contracts, fee structures, and criteria used for selecting Xpress Payments. He also urged a comprehensive audit of TSA operations, warning that the trend could lead to a form of “state capture masquerading as digital innovation.”

Asserting that sound economic governance should not be conducted in secrecy, Atiku tied his objections to broader national security concerns. In his view, placing a private firm in such a critical role could give undue influence to non-state actors in managing public funds.

In response, FIRS defended its decision, stating that it uses a multi-channel payment model — and that Xpress Payments is only one of several payment service providers. The agency insisted that funds collected via its platform go directly into the national treasury, and that the process was conducted transparently and in line with technical standards.

FIRS argued that using multiple payment platforms actually enhances taxpayer convenience, promotes fintech innovation, and strengthens oversight. The agency pushed back against Atiku’s claims, urging the former vice president not to politicize what it calls a routine administrative decision — one that is part of ongoing tax reform efforts designed to make revenue collection more efficient and inclusive.