Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA), representing over 5,000 verified digital professionals across the country, has strongly condemned what it described as “deliberate misinformation and politicisation” of the nation’s tax administration by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking at an emergency press conference in Abuja, BAVCCA National President, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, said the association stands “in full solidarity with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)” following allegations made by Atiku on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the onboarding of Xpress Payment Solutions Limited as a Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) under the Treasury Single Account (TSA) framework.
Atiku had claimed that the move signaled “a dangerous attempt to resurrect the discredited Alpha Beta–style revenue collection model.” But Chukwunyere said the assertion was not only incorrect but intentionally misleading.
He stated: “This claim is not only factually incorrect but a dangerous distortion designed to incite public distrust in Nigeria’s tax institutions at a time when the country is undertaking bold and necessary tax reforms.”
BAVCCA aligned itself fully with the FIRS’ official rebuttal, stressing that Nigeria currently operates a transparent, multi-channel PSSP ecosystem that includes Remita, Quickteller, Etranzact, Flutterwave, Payarena, Interswitch, XpressPay, and others.
According to him, none of these platforms functions as a monopolistic “collection agent”, and no PSSP receives any percentage of government revenue or processing fees. All tax payments, it reiterated, go directly into the Federation Account, eliminating any possibility of diversion or leakage.
BAVCCA president emphasized that the onboarding of XpressPay followed an open, competitive process and represented a continued shift away from single-gateway dominance toward innovation and convenience.
He quoted the FIRS statement verbatim: “The FIRS does not operate any exclusive or single-gateway revenue-collection arrangement, and no private entity has been granted a monopoly over government revenues… This reform has come to stay and should not be dragged into partisan controversy.”
“BAVCCA fully endorses this position,” Chukwunyere added.
Chukwunyere noted that digital creators, who communicate with millions daily, cannot remain silent when “vital national institutions are misrepresented for political scoring.”
He highlighted key benefits already emerging from the multi-PSSP reforms, including easier tax payments, reduced platform dominance, real-time revenue monitoring, increased competition among fintechs, and job creation within the digital economy.
“Dragging these reforms into partisan politics does not serve Nigeria,” he warned. “It only benefits tax evaders and those who prefer the old opaque system.”
The association president issued a direct appeal to the former vice president and his allies, saying: “Stop politicising tax administration.
“Stop spreading falsehoods that erode public confidence in institutions working hard to increase Nigeria’s revenue for development.
“If you have genuine concerns, use the appropriate channels – not social media sensationalism.”
The BAVCCA national president reaffirmed the association’s pledge to support public awareness on tax matters.
“We commit to using our platforms to educate millions of followers with the correct facts about Nigeria’s tax reforms,” he said. BAVCCA also vowed to fact-check further misinformation and to partner with FIRS on public enlightenment campaigns.
He concluded that “Nigeria’s progress depends on truth, not on recycled falsehoods.”
