Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for a pause in implementing Nigeria’s “controversial” tax law, arguing that serious drafting and policy flaws have made the new regime difficult to understand, trust, and comply with.
Obi made the appeal in a statement posted on his official X handle on Tuesday, January 13, where he said the scale of identified issues should compel government to halt enforcement and rework the framework through open consultation.
“It is now undeniable that the tax laws have been fundamentally altered, and even a firm as esteemed as KPMG has pinpointed 31 critical problem areas, from drafting errors to glaring policy contradictions and administrative gaps.
“This revelation should prompt every responsible government to take immediate action.”
Obi also questioned why, in his view, the flaws only gained acknowledgement after private engagements involving tax authorities and consultants.
“Even more alarming is the fact that it took private meetings between the National Revenue Service and KPMG for these serious issues to be acknowledged.
“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?”
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He framed taxation as a legitimacy issue rather than merely a revenue drive.
“Taxation transcends mere fiscal policy; it represents a social contract between the government and its citizens. You cannot enforce a social contract that isn’t understood or trusted.”
Obi argued that tax reforms must be tied to visible public value and clear communication, warning that enforcement without consensus will deepen hardship.
“Without trust, taxation feels like punishment. Without clarity, it breeds confusion. Without evident public value, it amounts to robbery.”
He said Nigerians are still struggling with rising living costs and have yet to see relief after subsidy removal, adding that introducing a sweeping tax regime in that context is unjustifiable.
“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,” he added.