Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, says the Nigeria–France tax memorandum of understanding (MoU) must be transparent, as it has generated understandable public concern.
On December 10, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) signed a MoU with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP) on the promotion of efficient tax administration.
Obi said international collaborations on tax administration, revenue systems, and data management demand a “high level of openness” due to their direct impact on public trust.
“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,” he said.
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“Transparency is essential in matters that directly affect public revenue and institutional credibility.
“That said, I am not opposed to engaging foreign expertise. However, such engagements must be clearly justified, with a transparent explanation of the specific gaps they are intended to fill, why those gaps cannot be addressed locally, and, above all, the concrete benefits to Nigerians.”
Obi further explained that disclosing the terms of the engagements is especially important because Nigeria is not lacking in tax expertise.
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“The country has a strong pool of qualified tax professionals, advisory firms, and globally recognised consultancies already operating locally, with the capacity to support tax reform and modernisation,” he said.
“In light of this, it is reasonable for Nigerians to question why external partnerships are made a priority instead of strengthening and leveraging existing local capacity. Sustainable reform should build institutions from within.”
The former presidential candidate noted that the concerns arise as Nigeria faces significant economic strain, with over 60 percent of citizens living in poverty and youth unemployment widespread.
He said policy attention should focus on simplifying taxes, closing revenue leakages, and using public resources prudently.
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Obi added that any agreement lacking transparency, public confidence, and measurable benefits risks eroding trust in government, so the federal government should publish the MoU, explain its rationale, and outline Nigeria’s benefits.
On Sunday, the FIRS said the MoU with DGFiP does not give France access to Nigerian taxpayers’ data or systems.
