Atiku faults FG’s appointment of Xpress Payments as TSA revenue agent
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has criticised the federal government over the appointment of Xpress Payments Solutions Limited as a new revenue-collecting agent under the Treasury Single Account (TSA), describing the move as “state capture masquerading as digital innovation.”
In a statement on Sunday, Atiku alleged that the engagement of the firm resembles what he called the “Alpha Beta revenue cartel” that operated in Lagos State during and after President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor, claiming it created a private monopoly around public funds.
He argued that the federal government’s decision suggests an attempt to replicate the model at the national level, effectively turning the country “from a republic to a private holding company controlled by a small circle of vested interests.”
Atiku also faulted the timing of the move, saying that introducing a new revenue structure at a time of escalating insecurity reflects a lack of empathy and transparency.
He questioned the process behind the appointment, asking why it was not subjected to stakeholder consultations or National Assembly oversight. He further queried what additional value Xpress Payments would bring to existing TSA channels and who ultimately stands to benefit.
“This is not reform,” Atiku said. “Nigeria does not need more middlemen between citizens and their government revenue. What we need is transparency, stronger institutions, and a tax system free from political capture.”
He called for the immediate suspension of the appointment pending a public inquiry, full disclosure of contractual terms, and a comprehensive audit of TSA operations. He also demanded a legal framework to prevent private proxies from inserting themselves into core government revenue systems.
Describing the matter as both an economic and national security concern, Atiku warned that Nigeria “cannot afford governance conducted in the shadows” at a time when insecurity continues to claim lives nationwide.
