Tax Law Without Trust Feels Like Punishment, Warns Obi
Tax Law Without Trust Feels Like Punishment, Warns Obi
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi has called for the suspension of Nigeria’s controversial tax law, warning that the current approach to taxation lacks public trust, clear communication and proper consultation with citizens.
In a statement shared on social media, Obi said taxation without transparency and public value creates confusion and hardship for Nigerians.
“Without trust, taxation feels like punishment. Without clarity, it breeds confusion. Without evident public value, it amounts to robbery,” he stated.
He argued that Nigerians were already struggling with rising living costs and should not face additional burdens without a clear explanation of benefits. Obi said the country needs “a government that listens, communicates effectively and prioritises building national consensus” to achieve genuine reform and growth.
The former Anambra State governor also criticised the process behind the new tax laws, saying they were introduced without adequate public consultations. He noted that in standard practice, months or years are spent engaging businesses, workers and civil society before tax drafts are presented for public discussion.
“People must be informed not only about their financial contributions but also about the benefits that will ensue,” he said.
Obi added that Nigeria has instead pursued tax collection without securing public agreement and imposed enforcement without sufficient explanations. He said citizens remain in limbo even after subsidy removal, facing high food prices, transport costs, declining purchasing power and rising poverty.
Raising further concerns, Obi revealed that professional services firm KPMG identified 31 critical problem areas in the tax laws, including drafting errors, policy contradictions, and administrative gaps.
“This revelation should prompt every responsible government to take immediate action,” he said.
He questioned why serious issues in the tax framework were only acknowledged after private meetings between the National Revenue Service and KPMG. “If experts require closed-door discussions to navigate the complexities of our tax laws, what hope does the average Nigerian have of comprehending the obligations being imposed on them?” Obi asked.
He concluded that taxation represents a social contract between the government and citizens, which cannot be enforced if it is not understood or trusted. “You cannot enforce a social contract that isn’t understood or trusted,” he said, calling for a pause and review of the tax laws.
