Niger Unveils Ambitious Fiscal Reform to Strengthen National Security Funding

Niamey, Niger - Niger’s government has launched its most comprehensive economic policy overhaul to date with the presentation of Ordinance No. 2025-35, restructuring the Fund for the Safeguard of the Homeland (FSSP). The ordinance was detailed at a press conference on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Niamey Conference Center by Mrs. Reki Moussa Hassane, President of the FSSP Management Committee.

The new legal framework, adopted by the Council of Ministers on October 22 after nine months of consultation with economic, social, and professional stakeholders, transforms the FSSP from a voluntary patriotism-based fund into a structured system of eleven mandatory levies. The reform aims to secure a stable annual revenue of approximately 50 billion CFA Francs, providing a predictable financial base for Niger’s security, defense, development, and sovereignty initiatives independent of international aid fluctuations.

Key elements of the levy system include:

International Trade: 3-12% tax on certain imported luxury goods; 4% levy on agricultural and fishery exports; fixed fees on licenses and certificates through the Single Window for Foreign Trade.

Corporate Sector: 1.2% contribution on turnover of strategic enterprises; 15% tax on returns from investments by public institutions and state-owned companies.

Labor and Salaries: 1% contribution on net salaries across public, private, and parapublic sectors, supplemented by taxes on in-kind benefits.

Telecommunications and Digital Services: 1% mandatory contribution on monthly phone and internet subscriptions.

Public Finance: 10% allocation from national funds, including the Universal Access Fund, Mining Fund, and Intervention Fund.

Civil Society: Tiered monthly contributions for NGOs and associations, ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 CFA Francs depending on size and budget.

Real Estate and Public Procurement: 3% tax on rents for state-leased buildings and development projects; 0.5% levy on the pre-tax value of public procurement contracts.

Officials describe the reform as a landmark step toward fiscal autonomy, linking domestic economic activity directly to the financing of national sovereignty. Its success will hinge on careful administration to avoid economic slowdown, inflationary pressure, or excessive burdens on citizens and businesses.