Serious flaws- Why FG should suspend tax laws now- Peter Obi
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend the enforcement of the newly introduced tax law, citing fundamental flaws in its content and implementation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Obi said recent findings have made it clear that the tax framework has been significantly altered in ways that raise serious concerns. He referenced a report by global accounting firm KPMG, which reportedly identified 31 critical problem areas in the law, ranging from drafting errors and policy contradictions to administrative shortcomings.
According to Obi, the findings should compel the government to take urgent corrective action. He expressed concern that the scale of the problems only became apparent after private engagements between the National Revenue Service and KPMG, questioning how ordinary Nigerians are expected to understand their tax obligations under such a complex and unclear system.
Obi stressed that taxation goes beyond revenue generation, describing it as a social contract between the state and its citizens that must be built on trust, clarity, and mutual benefit. He argued that effective tax systems around the world are tied to visible public benefits such as quality healthcare, education, infrastructure, job creation, and social protection.
He lamented that Nigeria’s current approach focuses more on increasing government revenue than on demonstrating what citizens stand to gain in return. A tax system without clear and tangible public value, he warned, cannot be regarded as reform.
The former governor also criticised the absence of broad consultations with stakeholders, including businesses, workers, and civil society, before the tax laws were finalized. He noted that such engagements are essential for building legitimacy and public confidence.
Obi further pointed out that Nigerians are still struggling with the economic impact of subsidy removal, including rising food prices, high transport costs, and declining purchasing power, with little evidence of relief or benefits. Introducing a wide-ranging new tax regime under these conditions, he said, would only worsen the hardship faced by citizens.
He concluded that without trust, clarity, and visible public benefit, taxation becomes punitive rather than progressive, urging the government to listen to citizens, communicate transparently, and build national consensus as a foundation for genuine reform and shared prosperity.
“Nigeria cannot afford to place further burdens on its already struggling citizens. What we need is a government that listens, communicates effectively, and prioritises building national consensus. This is the only viable path to genuine reform, unity, growth, and shared prosperity.”
