MONDAY, DECEMBER 15,
Fresh Concerns Over FG–France MoU On Nigerians’ Tax Data
•Tinubu’s Govt ‘Drifting Us Into Neocolonialism’ — Netizens
•What France–FG MoU Seeks To Achieve — FIRS Explains
Kazeem Badmus
CONCERNS have con nued to trail the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and France’s tax authority, Direc on Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP), as Nigerians took to social media to express fears over data sovereignty and foreign influence.
The agreement, signed in early December 2025, is intended to support Nigeria’s digital tax administra on, capacity building and knowledge exchange ahead of FIRS’ transi on into the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) in January 2026.
Following the disclosure of the agreement online, several users on X and Instagram cri cised the deal, accusing the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu of handing sensi ve naonal responsibili es to a former colonial power.
Many also suggested the deal is tantamount to allowing a foreign power access to Nigeria’s tax systems and taxpayer data.
Some of the posts, which described the government as dri ing into colonialism, accused the Tinubu administra on of compromising sovereign control.
Others also warned that France could end up with influence over Nigeria’s internal tax mechanisms, a claim widely shared on pla orms such as X and Reddit.
One X user wrote, “So France now needs to help Nigeria manage tax data? This is how colonialism starts again.”
Another commented,
“Why can’t Nigerian experts handle this? Everything must involve France or the West.”
Others were more blunt. “Tinubu’s government is dri ing us back into colonialists,” a user said, while another warned, “Once foreign governments touch your tax systems, your sovereignty is gone.”
On Instagram, similar sen ments were echoed.
A commenter asked, “Are we saying Nigeria does not have professionals
who understand taxa on and technology?” Another added, “Today it’s tax data, tomorrow it will be something else.”
Some users also linked the agreement to wider economic frustra ons, with one post sta ng, “They keep increasing taxes at home, yet inviting foreign countries to ‘advise’ us.”
The reac ons sparked debates around trust in government reforms, data protec on and the role of foreign partner-
ships in sensi ve sectors. What France–FG MoU Seeks To Achieve — FIRS Explains
In response to the backlash, FIRS issued a clarifica on signed by Dr. Umar Ahmed, its Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Dr. Ahmed said the MoU is strictly a technical assistance and capacitybuilding framework and does not give France access to Nigerian tax data, digital infrastructure or opera onal control.
He stressed that all Nigerian laws on data protec on, sovereignty and cybersecurity remain fully in force, adding that the agreement contains strong confiden ality provisions.
According to him, the DGFiP is one of the world’s most experienced tax administra ons, and the collabora on is advisory, non-intrusive and aimed at strengthening FIRS’ ins tu onal capacity as it transi ons to the NRS.
He also dismissed claims that local firms were sidelined, no ng that FIRS con nues to work with Nigerian technology companies such as NIBSS, Interswitch, Paystack and Flu erwave.
Dr. Ahmed said informed public discourse was welcome but urged Nigerians to judge the MoU based on its content, not specula on, insis ng that Nigeria retains full control over its tax systems, data and policy direc on.
•French President, Emmanuel Macron, in an embrace with President Bola Tinubu, recently
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025
Osun 2026: Delegates To Affirm Salaam As ADC Candidate Today
Yusuf Oketola
DELEGATES drawn across the 30 local government areas and Ife East Area office of Osun State will today (Monday) converge in Osogbo, the state capital to affirm a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Dr. Najeem Salaam as the party’s candidate for the 2026 governorship elec on.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that as at the close of submission on December 1, it was only Dr. Salaam who purchased the party’s nomina on and expression of interest forms to par cipate in the primary elec on.
A statement signed by Oluwaseun Abosede, Chairman, Osun ADC Media and Publicity Directorate confirmed that the primary holds at the Ul mate Civic Event Centre, Alekuwodo, Osogbo. Abosede also noted that the exercise will be conducted by officials from the ADC Na onal Secretariat and monitored by the Independent Naonal Electoral Commission (INEC).
The statement said, “The African Democra c
Congress (ADC), Osun State Chapter, hereby invites all loyal and commi ed party members across the state to converge in Osogbo on Monday 15th of December, @ ULTIMATE CIVIC EVENT CENTRE, ALEKUWODO by 10:00am for the conduct of the ADC Primary.
“This important exercise marks a cri cal step in strengthening our internal democra c process and reaffirming our collec ve commitment to building a credible, people-oriented poli cal alterna ve for Osun State.
“All party stakeholders, delegates, and members are encouraged to parcipate peacefully and responsibly, in line with party guidelines, as we work together to deepen unity and uphold the values of fairness, transparency, and progress that define the ADC.
“This primary elec on represents A New Dawn of Leadership and Service as we work collec vely to strengthen our internal democracy and present a credible flagbearer who embodies the values, vision, and aspira ons of the ADC,” Abosede stated further.
2026: Parallel Accord Party Primary Produces Bamigbola as Factional Guber Candidate
Afac on of the Accord Party yesterday conducted a parallel governorship primary in Osun State, producing Mr. Clement Bamigbola as its candidate for the 2026 gubernatorial elec on.
Makinde Pledges To End Refuse Dumping In Ibadan
Abiodun Ogunrinde, Ibadan
GOVERNOR Seyi Makinde has assured Oyo residents that the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Ibadan will soon be a thing of the past.
Makinde, while speaking at a social func on over the weekend, said his ad-
ministra on has been tackling the problem since he assumed office and promised a las ng solu on.
He also used the occasion to stress that cizens should not die for poli cians, highligh ng the union of families from different poli cal backgrounds.
“Poli cs is a game, but governance is not a game. Governance is serious
business, and that is why I will use this opportunity to apologise to all of you.
“Passing through Ibadan, you will see a lot of waste all over. It is a problem we have been dealing with. It has taken me six years and it has s ll not been solved, but I promise you that the problem will be solved and be solved for good,” Makinde emphasised.
The development comes four days a er Governor Ademola Adeleke was declared the party’s governorship candidate in a primary held on Wednesday, where he polled 145 votes.
The Wednesday exercise was supervised by the party’s leadership under Mr. Maxwell Mgbudem.
Adeleke’s candidacy, however, has been contested by a rival fac on, which argued that Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem is not a legally recognised Na onal Chairman of the party.
In the Sunday exercise, 300 delegates from across Osun State convened at Regina Suite, Osogbo, to conduct the parallel primary.
no longer valid members of the Accord party. The two of them, Mr. Olufemi Ogunleye, our former Chairman in Lagos and Mr. Adewale Adebisi, an ex-chairman in Ogun State, both of whom we have expelled at the party’s Na onal Execu ve Commi ee (NEC) mee ng held in January this year (2025).
“I have confirmed from INEC and the Na onal Headquarters of our party
and they told me they are not aware of what happened today.
“Our party is not faconalised at any level. The duly recognised structure of our party at the na onal level is available on the INEC website and that is the NWC that came here to conduct the primaries.
“What happened today is a mere sham. We are not bothered at all,” Akande noted.
I’ll Beat Oyebamiji – Adeleke Vows
Kazeem Badmus
OVERNOR Ademola
FG Bans Admission Into SS3 Across Nigeria
THE Federal Government has announced a naonwide ban on the admission and transfer of students into Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) in all public and private schools across Nigeria.
The direc ve, issued by the Federal Ministry of Educa on in a press release dated December 14, 2025, and signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Rela ons, is aimed at tackling the rising incidence of examina on malprac ce, including the use of illegal special centres during external exams.
According to the ministry, such prac ces “undermine the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s
educa on system.” The new policy will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, restric ng admissions and transfers to SS1 and SS2 only.
“The policy will take effect from the next academic calendar 2026/27 with admissions and transfers now restricted strictly to Senior Secondary School One (SS1) and Senior Secondary School
Two (SS2),” the statement said.
The ministry explained that the move is intended to curb lastminute student transfers for exam-related advantages, ensure proper academic monitoring, and promote con nuity in teaching and learning.
School proprietors, principals, and administrators na onwide have been directed to comply fully with the policy. The ministry warned that viola ons would a ract sanc ons under exis ng educa on regula ons.
Reaffirming its commitment to educa on reforms, the ministry said the measure is part of broader efforts to protect the integrity of public examina ons, maintain academic standards, and promote fairness across Nigeria’s educa on system.
Bamigbola emerged as the fac onal candidate through a voice vote, announced by the electoral commi ee led by Mr. Olufemi Ogundare.
The development has intensified divisions within the Accord Party, raising ques ons about which facon will secure official recogni on ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship elecon.
But, in a reac on, Osun State Chairman of Accord party, Victor Akande, said Adeleke was duly nominated and elected candidate of the party for next year’s poll.
Speaking on a radio programme monitored by OSUN DEFENDER on Sunday a ernoon, Akande dismissed insinua ons that the primary elec on which produced the Governor was a ended by all 11 members of the party’s Naonal Working Commi ee, three INEC officials, media organisa ons and security agencies.
“Those who purportedly conducted the congress that happened today are
GAdeleke has vowed to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the 2026 Osun State elec on, declaring, “I will beat Oyebamiji by the might of God and people.”
The governor’s statement, issued through his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, was a response to comments by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, at the APC primary on Saturday, where Oyetola expressed confidence that Oyebamiji would defeat Adeleke.
Adeleke described the minister’s op mism as “wishful thinking, illusory grandstanding and a failure to accept the deep level of unpopularity of APC among the people of Osun State.”
He cri cised Oyetola’s tenure as governor between 2010 and 2022, calling it an “an -people era” and “a dark page in Osun socio-poli cal history, a period neither labour nor any segment of our popula on want re-enacted.”
Highligh ng his achieve-
ments since taking office in 2022, Adeleke said the APC is a emp ng “an -democra c ac vi es instead of marke ng themselves to the people and poten al voters.”
He challenged the APC, asking: “If you are sure you have the votes of the people, why are you deploying an -democra c means to stop the unstoppable will of our people?”
The governor boasted of a mass movement backing his re-elec on bid and highlighted his administraon’s focus on workers’ welfare, infrastructural renewal, healthcare, educaon, and inclusive development.
“You and your proxy, now the APC’s governorship candidate, were central figures in the mismanagement that plunged Osun State into economic distress, characterised by half salaries, moun ng debts, and poor service delivery to the people. Osun will not go back to the dark days,” Adeleke stated.
The governor’s declaraon sets the stage for what promises to be a highly compe ve 2026 governorship contest in Osun State, as poli cal par es intensify prepara ons for the polls.
Yusuf Oketola
THE year ahead will be consequen al. As the present year draws to a close, the signals are already clear: Nigeria stands at another inflec on point, confronted by familiar challenges made more urgent by me, scale and consequence.
Insecurity remains pervasive, ins tu ons are fragile, and economic growth connues to be largely cosmetic numbers without commensurate improvement in living standards. Infla on is entrenched, purchasing power is eroded and public confidence in governance is thin. Only the most uncrical op mist expects a drama c shi from a poli cal establishment that appears
“The statistics are sobering. Inflation remains above 25 per cent, debt servicing consumes more than 40 per cent of federal revenues, while foreign direct investment inflows trail far behind those of comparable African economies”
GROWING up and watching my father sell, we took some cues as per what a smile could do and how your gaze could pummel your would-be customer to make an urgent purchase. We sold to Yoruba and we sold to Fulanis, who o en have the knacks for buying be er ma resses for their marriageable females. Yet, language differences did not at once affect the use of monetary figure and the psychic need to know when and how to close a deal.
Aside that the bus stop engagements unmask the fake lure of Ibadan peacefulness, the city’s park hub is a beehive of lessons for would-be salesperson. Sales there start from compulsory patronage and discre onary patronage; a micra driver and a hawker respec vely. Whilst a micra would not need charms to sell his service, nor eye contact to make his demand sink in, a hawker employs a lot of subtle psychological tac cs to get you to buy.
In fact, neccesary services created a niche for the likes of Micra drivers who may appear rude and seem very en tled but you s ll have to engage their services. Same way a “motherly” nurse might treat her pa ents like they would regard their recalcitrant kids at home. Whereas, a street vendor, even when bereaved, will s ll rile all form of nice es to get you to close purchase.
Because, for someone selling discreonary goods or services the buyer’s choice to buy is based on personal preferences, desires or priori es. A street hawker besides the bus, knows the
The Year Ahead
weary, defensive and largely out of ideas.
In this climate, the burden of renewal increasingly shi s to the opposi on. While Nigeria does not operate a parliamentary system, a credible opposi on must s ll behave like a government-in-waiting; offering coherent policy alterna ves, organisa onal discipline and moral clarity capable of winning both trust and legi macy.
The coming year will also test the government’s resolve through the implementa on of far-reaching tax reforms. These measures, touching every layer of the economy, will be poli cally sensi ve and socially disrupve if poorly managed. With over 60 per cent of economic ac vity occurring in the in-
formal sector, enforcement without equity risks deepening aliena on. Fiscal reform must therefore be matched by transparency, service delivery and visible fairness. Electoral credibility will be another defining marker.
The off-cycle governorship elec ons in Osun and Eki States will serve as the first major test of the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) under its new leadership. The challenge before the commission is stark. Persistent weaknesses in logis cs and data management have undermined public confidence in recent electoral cycles. These are not minor defects; they strike at the heart of democra c legi macy.
Nigeria’s electoral pro-
The Discourse
cess is not merely a domesc concern. It feeds directly into interna onal percep ons of poli cal stability, compeveness and country risk. Investors, credit ra ng agencies and mul lateral partners read elec ons as indicators of instu onal strength. Con nued failure in this area comes at a measurable economic cost.
The sta s cs are sobering. Infla on remains above 25 per cent, debt servicing consumes more than 40 per cent of federal revenues, while foreign direct investment inflows trail far behind those of comparable African economies. These reali es leave li le room for policy error or ins tu onal dri . The year ahead will demand competence, courage and candour from those in power and seriousness from those who seek it. Nigeria’s future will be shaped not by rhetoric, but by the quality of decisions taken and the integrity of ins tu ons entrusted to implement them.
As always, we will guide our readers through the uncertain es and turning points of the months ahead. We wish them a peaceful Christmas and a New Year marked by clarity, accountability and renewed na onal purpose.
Eye-Contact, Charms, And The Art Of Bus-Stop Selling
By Babatunde Adesokan
importance of convincing you to buy. That’s why they build jus fica on for sales. “Iya kaabo, Omo ku ile” roughly translated as “This is a wonderful gi for your children a er sojourn as a mother”. They employ this with the use of charms and eye contact.
Eye contact, to them, serves as a vital hook to grab the a en on of passing or disinterested customers. Vendors employ this deliberately to:
First, establish connec on: this creates a sense of familiarity and rapport with poten al customers. As they say, a en on is in the eyes.
Second, convey enthusiasm: this shows genuine passion for their products, making customers more recep ve to their pitches. Raised eye-brows, bulging eyeballs can show passion or convinc on.
Third, build trust: this demonstrates
“A street hawker besides the bus, knows the importance of convincing you to buy. That’s why they build justification for sales. “Iya kaabo, Omo ku ile” roughly translated as “This is a wonderful gift for your children after sojourn as a mother”. They employ this with the use of charms and eye contact”
honesty and transparency, essen al for building trust with customers.
Street vendors, alongside the aforemen oned, have developed unique charming techniques to maintain eye contact, even in the most challenging environments. They might use:
Mirroring: subtly imitate the customer’s body language to create a sense of rapport. Or to s r response from the disinterested buyer.
Proximity: posi on themselves close
to the customer, making eye contact more in mate and engaging. A lover’s pose is a trader’s close.
Facial expressions: use warm, genuine smiles to create a welcoming atmosphere. Unlike the Micra driver, the street vendor needs to get that money from your pocket through apppeal. Warmth creates a bias for sales.
OSUN DEFENDER
Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.
Asst. News Editor – Yusuf Oketola
Asst. Features Editor – Kazeem Badmus
Art of Charm in Sales is to create rapport, diffuse tension and kill skep cism in the mind of the customer, also to highlight benefits in an a enve way. Some hawkers go as far as telling alarming stories (we remember the usual “molue” pitch), stand up comedy, compliments passing etc.
Deputy Photo Editor – Shola Aderinto
Deputy Graphics Manager – Zainab Olalere
Produc on Controller – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State.
ISSN : 0794-8050
Telephone : 0809-301-9152
Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail : osundefenderhq@gmail.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com
All correspondence to the above email addresses.
To them on the street, these are not rocket science but necessary skills you pick up through creatvity, flexibility and resilient learning and unlearning. Just like us, as small boys, we subtly imbibed our fathers knacks for closing purchases and remaining a friend to almost every customer for life. #ThingsILearntFromMyFather.
•Adesokan is a poet, writer and public affairs analyst.
Itook me to review these new tax reform bills and to be honest, the commi ee behind their dra ing has done a commendable job. I am sa sfied with almost everything contained within the bills, except for one specific area where I need further clarity: the aspect related to VAT.
OVERVIEW
The current system of sharing VAT revenue operates as follows:
1. All VAT revenue collected monthly is distributed as follows:
• Federal Government: 15%
• State Governments and FCT Abuja: 50%
• Local Governments: 35%
2. The 50% allocated to state governments is further distributed in this manner:
• 50% equally distributed: Each state and the FCT receive an equal share of this por on. For instance, if the states’ total share is N100 million, 50% (N50 million) is divided equally among the 36 states and the FCT.
• 30% based on popula on: This por on is distributed according to the popula on of each state and the FCT, with larger states receiving a higher share.
• 20% based on deriva on: This is distributed according to the VAT revenue collected by each state. The more VAT collected within a state, the greater its share.
3. The deriva on component (20%) has been a subject of conten on for years. Lagos State, for example, collects the highest VAT not necessarily because more VAT-genera ng transac ons occur there but because most major companies have their headquarters in Lagos. As a result, they pay VAT from ac vi es conducted na onwide directly in Lagos – Headquarter Effect.
For example, if you make a call in Kaduna using your MTN line, the VAT charged for that call is not paid in Kaduna. Instead, MTN aggregates VAT collecons na onwide and remits them from its headquarters in Lagos. This inflates Lagos’ VAT contribu ons and increases its deriva on share.
“Since these bills supposedly aim to improve fairness in VAT revenue distribution, there must be clear projections showing how much revenue each state is expected to collect and receive under the proposed system. These figures should be compared with what states currently receive under the existing system”
FG Bans Admission Into SS3 Across Nigeria
is benefi ng dispropor onately? The conclusion was solely based on transparent data showing the dispari es.
By
ABDULHALEEM RINGIM
The New Tax Reform Bills (VAT Reform) – A Simple Explainer And Advisor
WHAT DO THESE NEW BILLS PROPOSE, SPECIFICALLY ON VAT?
1. The bills propose changes to the distribu on formula:
• Federal Government share: Reduced from 15% to 10%.
• State Governments’ share: Increased by 5%, bringing it to 55%.
• Local Governments’ share: Maintained at 35%.
2. Changes to the state governments’ alloca on formula:
• The 50% equal share is reduced to 20%.
• The 30% popula on-based share is also reduced to 20%.
• The 20% deriva on share is increased to 60%.
THERE is a resounding homily among progressives and radical ac vists: “Do not agonise, organise!” Young, patrio c Nigerians, however many or few, now have to take this counsel seriously considering the depressing level of resigna on and helplessness among ci zens. Because of the innate and boundless energy of young Nigerians, collec ve sense of resigna on have now opened up into a channel of self-help engagements - in illegi mate and criminal ventures - by a huge number of those not running away from the country, which further escalates an already grave insecurity situa on.
We seem to have come to a pass where problems that have solu ons in organised ac ons are either handed over to God to resolve or simply ignored out of helpless disposi on, whereas every single, nega ve individual act of self-help con nues to compound the social problems and emboldens the ruling elites who are the authors of the na onal problems to brazenly con nue in their careless, self-centred policies and programmes of naked exploita on and oppression.
Addressing and resolving complex naonal problems that affect the lives of almost all ci zens cannot be an individual act, however heroic: it requires concerted and organised responses and ac ons. However intractable the problems seem to be, we should remember these two wise sayings: “there is no problem without solu on,” and “the journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step.” Confucius said “The man who moved mountain begins by carrying away small stones,” and Nelson Mandela capped it all with a counsel rooted in
3. A significant change in the VAT collec on system:
• Instead of companies remi ng VAT from their headquarters, VAT will now be collected and remi ed in the state where the VAT-genera ng transac ons occurred.
REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION AND RECOMMENDATION
This proposal could poten ally be an excellent reform. Increasing the deriva on share to 60% and shi ing the collec on system to a loca on-based system may indeed enhance fairness and accountability.
However, taxa on is a complex, numbers-driven issue.
• How was it determined that Lagos
• Since these bills supposedly aim to improve fairness in VAT revenue distribu on, there must be clear projecons showing how much revenue each state is expected to collect and receive under the proposed system. These figures should be compared with what states currently receive under the exis ng system.
The government is hence advised to publish this data for public review, allowing ci zens to assess the fairness of the new system based on actual numbers in comparison with the previous system.
If the data clearly shows increased equity, it would silence cri cs.
However, if the projec ons cannot be provided, it might be be er to maintain the current VAT revenue-sharing formula for now while implemen ng the proposed loca on-based collec on system.
This would allow the impact of the new collec on method to be observed, par cularly its effect on the current 20% deriva on share.
Once the data demonstrates fairness, the legislature can then adjust the distribu on formula to incorporate the 60% deriva on share as proposed.
•Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim, a Public Policy enthusiast, writes from Zaria. He can be reached via haleemabdul1999@ gmail.com
Be Up And Doing
great experience, “there is no easy road to freedom.”
Some basic reality we must se le down to, therefore, are: we should stop expecting prayers, fas ng, God and the gods to do for us what we should do by ourselves; we should never expect to get out of the mess in a hurry knowing it was not also created in a day; we cannot get out of the mess by keeping the same mindset and attude that allowed us get into the mess in the first place; individual triumphs, criminal or legi mate, in a na on that is in deep conflict and dying, are no achievement; resort to self-help, mostly through criminal exploits, however temporarily rewarding for the perpetrators, are roads to personal and social perdi on; no ma er your profession, once your country is organised in such a way that the system makes the country a death trap and renders almost all legi mate produc ve enterprise difficult, if not impossible, then your first duty as a ci zen is to contribute your patrio c quota to redeeming your country.
In same vein, it should be clear to us that the whole ci zens of a country do not need to rise up and be involved in its social redemp on project for it to succeed. Recall that Jesus, the Christ, started alone, and then with 12 disciples; and that the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) started likewise with few ardent disciples; and the 2 great religions are where they are today.
Stop agonising; start organising is a great, libera ng piece of advice. In various
communi es, in schools, worship places, work places, trades places, relaxa on places, start organising! When there is an interest and desire to personally make a change from self-help to collec ve solu ons and ac ons, other things will follow and fall in place, including the knowledge of the deep roots of the problems and las ng solu ons to them, as well as the ac vi es needed, from the smallest to the biggest.
There is life beyond General Elec ons and beyond the tenure of any Governor or President. The promises versus the realies of 8 Years of “Change” and “Next Level” should have thought Nigerians to stop hoping on any “renewed hope” by same of the same merchants of calamity. The task of making Nigeria into a great, prosperous na on has li le or nothing to do with electing a president, governors and lawmakers periodically. If it was not clear before, it should be clear by now!
A paradigm shi from present mindset and a tude, a deep desire to get together for collec ve solu ons to collec ve problems, will open in-depth truths about the root causes of the problems, the las ng solu ons, the ways and the means, and the steps that will lead us home to genuinely securing our rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in a free, just and mighty Federal Republic of Nigeria that will not only be a giant of Africa but a giant in the world; a na on we will be proud to hand over to our children and their children.