Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State, has raised concerns over reports of a tax cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and France, urging the Federal Government to prioritise transparency and public trust in tax-related agreements.
Obi said while international cooperation is not inherently problematic, agreements touching on tax administration, revenue systems and data management require a higher standard of openness because of their far-reaching implications for citizens and public institutions.
He noted that the reported MoU has triggered public anxiety largely because its full terms have not been made public, nor has there been a clear explanation of its objectives, scope and expected outcomes for Nigerians.
According to him, transparency is non-negotiable in matters that affect national revenue and institutional credibility, warning that secrecy around such agreements weakens confidence in government decision-making.
The former Anambra governor clarified that he is not opposed to engaging foreign expertise, but insisted that any such engagement must be clearly justified, with Nigerians informed about the specific gaps it seeks to address and the concrete benefits expected to flow from it.
Obi stressed that Nigeria is not short of tax expertise, pointing out that the country has a pool of qualified professionals, advisory firms and globally recognised consultancies already operating locally with the capacity to drive tax reform and modernisation.
He argued that it is reasonable for Nigerians to question why external partnerships are prioritised instead of strengthening and leveraging existing local capacity, adding that sustainable reform should be anchored on building institutions from within.
The former presidential candidate said the concerns are amplified by the country’s current economic realities, with over 60 per cent of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, widespread youth unemployment and small businesses weighed down by multiple taxation.
He added that at a time when government borrowing is rising without commensurate productivity gains, policy focus should be on simplifying the tax system, closing revenue leakages, broadening the tax base fairly and ensuring prudent use of public resources.
Obi warned that any agreement or policy initiative lacking transparency, public confidence and clearly defined, measurable benefits risks further eroding trust in government, urging the Federal Government to publish the full MoU and clearly outline what Nigeria stands to gain.
He noted that leadership demands openness, accountability and decisions guided strictly by the national interest, insisting that only through trust and transparency can meaningful tax reform be achieved, adding that a new Nigeria remains possible.
