Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to ensure full transparency for all Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) related to tax administration.
Obi’s call follows reports of a tax cooperation MoU between Nigeria and a French company. In a statement on social media, he expressed concern that an agreement with direct implications for public revenue and data management may have been concluded without making its terms fully available to Nigerians.
“It is troubling that an agreement of such importance seems to have been finalised without its full terms being disclosed, or without a clear explanation of its objectives, scope, and anticipated outcomes,” Obi said.
While acknowledging that international partnerships are not inherently problematic, he emphasized that arrangements affecting taxation require greater transparency because of their direct impact on citizens and public institutions.
Obi stressed that Nigerians have a right to know why external collaborations are pursued, what specific gaps they aim to fill, why local capacity cannot address them, and what tangible benefits the country will gain.
Highlighting the availability of skilled tax professionals, advisory firms, and globally recognised consultancies already operating in Nigeria, Obi argued that sustainable reform should prioritise strengthening local institutions and expertise rather than over-relying on foreign arrangements.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to publish the full text of the tax cooperation MoU, clarify its purpose, and outline the practical benefits Nigeria stands to gain from the partnership.
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