The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dismissed recent allegations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding the appointment of Xpress Payments as a channel in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) revenue collection system, describing the claims as inaccurate, misleading, and capable of injecting needless political tension into a purely administrative process.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the FIRS clarified that no private company has been granted exclusive rights or monopoly over government revenue collection. According to the agency, the TSA framework—designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public finance—has always operated through a multi-channel system involving several long-established Payment Solution Service Providers (PSSPs).
The tax authority listed the platforms currently approved under its expanded and competitive revenue-collection ecosystem. These include:
- Quickteller
- Remita
- Etranzact
- Flutterwave
- XpressPay
FIRS explained that these platforms collectively provide taxpayers with multiple secure and convenient payment options, ensuring that federal revenues are processed efficiently without giving undue advantage to any single service provider. The agency emphasized that the selection and onboarding of PSSPs follow strict regulatory standards, procurement guidelines, and performance benchmarks.
While urging the public to disregard misconceptions, the FIRS cautioned political actors against “misrepresenting technical decisions for political gain.” The agency maintained that tax administration thrives on stability, stakeholder confidence, and professionalism—values it said must be protected from partisan interference.
The statement reaffirmed FIRS’s commitment to transparency, fair competition among payment providers, and continuous improvement of the nation’s tax collection infrastructure in line with global best practices.