Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has said that meaningful reform of Nigeria’s tax system must be anchored on trust, transparency, and openness.
Obi made the remarks on Wednesday via his verified X handle while reacting to reports of a tax cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and France.
He noted that while international collaboration is not inherently wrong, agreements relating to tax administration, revenue systems, and data management require a high level of transparency due to their direct impact on public trust and institutional credibility.
According to him, it is concerning that an agreement of such importance appears to have been concluded without the full details being made public or a clear explanation of its objectives, scope, and expected outcomes to Nigerians.
Obi stressed that although he is not opposed to engaging foreign expertise, such partnerships must be clearly justified, with transparent explanations of the gaps they seek to address, why those gaps cannot be filled locally, and the concrete benefits Nigerians stand to gain.
He argued that Nigeria has no shortage of tax expertise, pointing to the presence of qualified professionals, advisory firms, and globally recognised consultancies already operating within the country and capable of supporting tax reform and modernisation.
The former Anambra State governor questioned why external partnerships are prioritised over strengthening local capacity, adding that sustainable reform should focus on building institutions from within.
He further observed that the concerns come at a time of severe economic pressure, with over 60 per cent of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, high youth unemployment, multiple tax burdens on small and medium-scale enterprises, and rising government borrowing without corresponding productivity gains.
Obi said policy efforts should instead prioritise simplifying the tax system, closing revenue leakages, fairly broadening the tax base, and ensuring prudent use of public resources.
He warned that any agreement or policy initiative lacking transparency, public confidence, and clearly defined benefits risks further eroding trust in government, urging the Federal Government to publish the full MoU and clearly outline its rationale and expected benefits to Nigeria.
“Leadership demands openness, accountability, and commitment to the interests of the Nigerian people,” Obi stated, adding that decisions of such nature must always be guided by what best serves the nation.