Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate during the 2023 elections, Peter Obi has called on the Federal Government to make all Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) relating to tax administration fully transparent.
In a statement shared on X, Obi reacted to reports of a tax cooperation MoU between Nigeria and a company in France, expressing concern that an agreement with direct implications for public revenue and data management appeared to have been concluded without full disclosure of its terms to Nigerians.
“It is therefore worrisome that an agreement of this significance appears to have been concluded without the full terms being made public, and without a clear effort to explain its objectives, scope, and expected outcomes to Nigerians” Obi said.
While he acknowledged that international cooperation is not inherently wrong, he stressed that agreements touching on taxation demand a higher level of openness due to their impact on citizens and institutions.
He noted that Nigerians deserve to know the objectives, scope and expected outcomes of such agreements, particularly when they involve sensitive areas such as revenue systems and administrative capacity.
He questioned why external partnerships are prioritised without a transparent explanation of the specific gaps they are meant to address, why those gaps cannot be filled locally, and what measurable benefits Nigerians stand to gain.
He also pointed out that Nigeria has no shortage of tax professionals, advisory firms and internationally recognised consultancies already operating within the country. In his view, sustainable reform should focus on strengthening local institutions and expertise rather than relying excessively on external arrangements.
Obi therefore urged the Federal Government to publish the full text of the tax cooperation MoU, clearly explain its rationale and spell out the mutual benefits, particularly what Nigeria stands to gain in practical terms.
