Atiku Raises Alarm Over New TSA Agent Appointment
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Federal Government's recent decision to appoint Xpress Payments Solutions Limited as a new collecting agent for the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The 2023 presidential candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the move as a troubling revival of a private revenue model previously linked to Lagos State.
Governance by Stealth Allegations
In a statement released on Sunday via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Atiku expressed serious concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the appointment. He emphasized that the decision was made without proper public consultation, stakeholder engagement, or National Assembly oversight.
The former Vice-President did not mince words, stating clearly: "This is not reform. This is state capture masquerading as digital innovation." He questioned what additional value Xpress Payments brings to the TSA system that existing channels cannot provide, and raised important questions about who ultimately benefits from this arrangement.
Questionable Timing During National Crisis
Atiku particularly criticized the timing of the announcement, noting it coincided with a period of national mourning over security-related losses across the country. He described the decision to introduce such a policy during a national tragedy as "insensitive" and "a deliberate act of governance by stealth."
"When a nation is grieving, leadership should show empathy and focus on securing lives, not on expanding private revenue pipelines," Atiku wrote, highlighting the disconnect between government priorities and public sentiment during a security crisis.
Five-Point Demand for Transparency
The former Vice-President outlined specific demands to address what he called the "creeping privatisation" of revenue collection:
- Immediate suspension of the Xpress Payments appointment pending a public inquiry
- Full disclosure of contractual terms, beneficiaries, fee structures, and selection criteria
- Comprehensive audit of TSA operations
- Legal framework to regulate private involvement in government revenue systems
- National security priority shift away from shadow economic governance
Atiku emphasized that Nigeria's revenues are not political spoils but the lifeblood of national survival, especially during times when insecurity is tearing communities apart. He called on the government to abandon what he termed "Lagos-style revenue cartelisation" and return to principles of transparency, constitutionalism, and public accountability.
