Peter Obi Asks FG to Publish Nigeria–France Tax Administration Agreement

Peter Obi has called on the Federal Government to publish the full terms of the tax administration cooperation agreement Nigeria signed with France, emphasising the need for transparency on matters that directly affect public revenue and institutional credibility.

Obi made his appeal on Wednesday via his verified X account, after reports emerged that the Federal Inland Revenue Service had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with France’s tax authority, Direction Générale des Finances Publiques.

The pact was signed at the French Embassy in Abuja on December 10, 2025, by FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji on behalf of Nigeria and France’s Ambassador Marc Fonbaustier, and is intended to support digital transformation, capacity building and cross-border tax enforcement.

In his post, Obi said that while international collaboration is not inherently objectionable, agreements relating to tax administration, revenue systems and data management require a high degree of openness because of their impact on public trust and accountability.

He wrote 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,” adding that transparency is essential in matters that directly affect public revenue and institutional credibility.

Obi argued that although foreign expertise may have a role to play, the rationale for engaging external partners must be clearly explained.

“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,” he said.

He also highlighted that Nigeria has a pool of qualified tax professionals and consultancies capable of supporting tax reform and modernisation efforts. He stressed that publishing the agreement would help address public concerns and strengthen confidence in government-led reforms.