Politics

FG Counters Atiku’s Accusations, Says TSA Partnership Isn’t Revenue Privatization

Published by Akinwale Fakinlede on November 23rd, 2025.

The Federal Government has pushed back strongly against allegations made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, dismissing his claims that the engagement of Xpress Payments Solutions Limited within the Treasury Single Account (TSA) framework amounts to a covert attempt to privatise Nigeria’s revenue collection system.

In a statement on Sunday, government officials clarified that the inclusion of the company is neither unusual nor indicative of any hidden agenda, insisting that the TSA structure remains fully under the control and supervision of the Federal Government. According to the explanation, Xpress Payments—like several other approved service providers—operates strictly within the technical and administrative guidelines governing payment processing for government transactions.

The government stressed that Atiku’s interpretation of the partnership was misleading and failed to acknowledge the operational realities of the TSA, which relies on a blend of public oversight and private-sector efficiency to function effectively. Officials explained that payment service providers help to streamline collections, enhance transparency, and reduce leakages by providing digital infrastructure that ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) cannot deliver on their own.

They emphasised that the TSA remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s public finance reforms and continues to be managed exclusively by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with no authority transferred to any private entity.

“The appointment of Xpress Payments does not translate to privatizing revenue collection,” a senior official noted. “It is a standard engagement aimed at improving transaction efficiency. All funds still flow into government accounts, and all processes remain subject to federal regulations.”

The Federal Government further urged the public to disregard what it described as politically charged interpretations of routine administrative decisions, warning that misrepresentations risk undermining confidence in key fiscal reforms designed to strengthen accountability.

As political tensions continue to rise over economic policies, the administration reiterated its commitment to maintaining a transparent and centrally controlled revenue system, assuring Nigerians that no component of the TSA has been ceded to private interests.