Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has warned that Nigeria risks worsening poverty and weakening national unity if it continues to implement tax policies that place heavy burdens on citizens.
In a statement shared on X, Obi said true economic progress cannot be achieved through measures that make people poorer. He stressed that sustainable growth must be built on trust, honesty, and productivity, and that policies harming citizens ultimately undermine the social contract between government and the people.
Drawing on his engagements with leaders around the world, Obi said countries that achieved lasting transformation did so by uniting citizens around a shared vision grounded in truth. He noted that leadership without honesty erodes consensus and stalls development.
Obi emphasized that taxation should operate as a genuine social contract, based on fairness, transparency, and concern for citizens’ welfare. Every tax policy, he said, must clearly explain how it affects incomes and how the revenue contributes to national development.
He further stated that Nigeria’s fiscal challenge is not merely about raising revenue but about making citizens wealthier to strengthen the nation. He argued that current tax measures are imposed without clarity, explanation, or visible public benefit.
Highlighting the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Obi said empowering these businesses is key to sustainable economic growth, as thriving SMEs create jobs, raise incomes, and naturally expand the tax base.
The former governor also expressed concern over what he described as a tax law controversy, alleging that a law currently in use differs from the version passed by the National Assembly, with reports suggesting lawmakers have acknowledged the discrepancies.
Obi cautioned against celebrating increased government revenue while citizens grow poorer, saying such outcomes reflect a failure of governance. He argued that taxing poverty does not create wealth but entrenches hardship.
He called for a fair, lawful, and citizen-focused tax system that encourages production, rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and restores trust between government and citizens, saying that only such an approach can make taxation a tool for unity, growth, and shared prosperity.