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Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to immediately publish the full details of the recently signed tax administration memorandum of understanding (MoU) with France, citing urgent public concern over its opacity.

The agreement, signed on December 10 between Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP), is intended to promote efficient tax administration.

In a statement released on his official social media platform, Obi stressed that while international cooperation on tax matters is not inherently negative, such pacts directly impact national revenue systems and data management, and therefore demand the “highest level of openness” to maintain public trust.

“It is therefore worrisome,” Obi stated, “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.”

Obi’s intervention highlights growing scrutiny over the MoU, which has sparked questions from citizens and policy analysts about its specific provisions. Key concerns centre on the nature of data to be shared, the reciprocal obligations for both countries, and the potential implications for Nigerian businesses and individuals with tax exposure in both jurisdictions.

The former Anambra State governor argued that transparency is non-negotiable in matters of national finance and sovereignty. He emphasized that the government has a duty to proactively disclose such agreements, allowing for public discourse and expert analysis to ensure they ultimately serve the national interest.

“When agreements that touch on critical areas like taxation are shrouded in secrecy, it only breeds suspicion and undermines the very trust required for effective governance,” Obi added.

As of now, the Federal Government has not issued a detailed public breakdown of the MoU’s contents. Obi’s call adds to a rising demand for the FIRS to publish the document in full, ensuring Nigerians are adequately informed about an international pact that directly concerns the nation’s fiscal policy and economic data.