A prominent critic of the Federal Government has demanded that the administration “come clean with Nigerians” over what he described as the clandestine appointment of Xpress Payments Solutions Limited as a new Treasury Single Account (TSA) collecting agent.
In a strongly worded statement, the critic labeled the decision “a dangerous resurrection of the Alpha Beta revenue cartel” that he claimed dominated Lagos State revenue collection during and after President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor. He alleged that the same model created “a private toll gate around public revenue” and funneled state funds into the hands of a politically connected monopoly.
According to the statement, the appointment represents an attempt to “nationalise that same template,” effectively moving Nigeria “from a republic to a private holding company controlled by a small circle of vested interests.”
The critic condemned the timing of the appointment, describing it as “governance by stealth” introduced “in the middle of a national tragedy” while Nigerians mourn victims of the worsening insecurity crisis. He argued that leadership should prioritize empathy and the protection of lives rather than “expanding private revenue pipelines” during a period of national grief.
The statement raised the following questions:
Why was the appointment rushed and announced without consultation, stakeholder engagement, or National Assembly oversight?
What additional value does Xpress Payments provide that existing TSA channels do not already offer?
Who are the ultimate beneficiaries—Nigeria or an entrenched political network?
Describing the move as “state capture masquerading as digital innovation,” the critic insisted that Nigeria does not need additional middlemen in government revenue collection and instead requires greater transparency, stronger institutions, and a tax system free from political capture.
He issued five specific demands:
Immediate suspension of the Xpress Payments appointment pending a public inquiry;
Full public disclosure of contractual terms, beneficiaries, fee structures, and selection criteria;
A comprehensive audit of all TSA operations to prevent creeping privatisation of revenue collection;
Establishment of a legal (rather than executive) framework prohibiting private proxies in core government revenue systems;
An urgent shift in national priorities toward security, acknowledging that a country under assault cannot tolerate economic governance conducted in the shadows.
The statement concluded by declaring that “Nigeria’s revenues are not political spoils” but “the lifeblood of our national survival,” especially amid widespread insecurity. It called on the government to abandon what it termed “Lagos-style revenue cartelisation” and return to transparency, constitutionalism, and public accountability.
The statement was signed – AA.
Clarion Newschannel has reached out to the Presidency and the Ministry of Finance for comments on the allegations and demands. No official response has been received at the time of publication.
Opposition Figure Accuses FG of Reviving “Alpha Beta Revenue Cartel” at National Level Through Xpress Payments TSA Appointment
