Amanze Chinonye
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over the recent appointment of Xpress Payment Solutions Limited as a new collecting agent under the Treasury Single Account (TSA), describing the move as an attempt to “nationalise a revenue cartel” and warning that the development signals a troubling shift in Nigeria’s public finance management.
Atiku’s statement comes days after the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) formally announced that Xpress Payments had been added as one of its designated channels for receiving tax payments through the TSA framework.
FIRS’ Announcement and Scope of the Appointment
According to the FIRS, the approval enables taxpayers using the TaxPro Max portal to choose Xpress Payments when generating a Payment Reference Number (PRN). Users can now complete transactions through Xpress Pay the company’s online payment gateway or at bank branches via its e-Cashier platform.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe mandate covers major tax categories, including Company Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Withholding Tax (WHT), and other statutory remittances collected by the FIRS.
The agency emphasised that the appointment does not displace longstanding TSA provider Remita, operated by SystemSpecs; instead, it expands available payment channels. Xpress Payments also joins a broader ecosystem that includes e-Tranzact International Plc, which handles e-invoicing and invoice authentication functions distinct from payment collection.
Xpress Payments’ Acting Managing Director, Wale Olayisade, said the firm has deployed the infrastructure required to support the sensitivity and volume of federal tax collections. The company, incorporated in 2016, operates across electronic collections, switching, and transaction processing, and is licensed as a Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP).
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Atiku: Appointment Is a ‘Private Toll Gate Around Public Revenue’
Atiku sharply disagreed with the government’s approach, alleging that the quiet inclusion of Xpress Payments introduces a “dangerous resurrection of the Alpha Beta revenue cartel” that dominated Lagos State during and after President Bola Tinubu’s governorship.
He argued that such models turn public revenue into a private franchise, benefiting politically aligned networks at the expense of transparency.
“What we are witnessing now is the attempt to nationalise that same template, moving Nigeria from a republic to a private holding company controlled by a small circle of vested interests,” he said.
The former vice-president also criticised the timing of the appointment, given the wave of insecurity and national mourning over recent tragedies.
“To introduce such a policy in the middle of a national tragedy is not only insensitive, it is governance by stealth,” he said.
Questions Over Process and Value
Atiku queried why a decision of this scale was made without public consultation, stakeholder engagement, or legislative oversight. He also questioned what unique value Xpress Payments brings that existing TSA channels, including Remita, do not already provide.
“This is not reform. This is state capture masquerading as digital innovation,” he declared.
Demands for Inquiry and Transparency
Atiku called for an immediate suspension of the appointment pending a public inquiry, full disclosure of contractual terms and beneficiaries, an audit of TSA operations, and a clear legal framework prohibiting the insertion of private intermediaries into core government revenue systems.
He warned that Nigeria, currently facing heightened security threats, “cannot afford economic governance conducted in the shadows.”
“Nigeria’s revenues are not political spoils,” he said. “The government must abandon this Lagos-style revenue cartelisation and return to transparency, constitutionalism and public accountability.”
The Federal Government has not yet responded to Atiku’s allegations.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
