Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has criticized Nigeria’s revised tax laws, cautioning that the reforms, as currently implemented, could deepen public distrust and worsen economic hardship for citizens already struggling with rising costs of living.

Obi’s warning follows a KPMG report that identified 31 critical issues in the new tax framework, including drafting errors, policy contradictions, and administrative gaps. He stressed that these findings underscore the urgent need for the government to pause, review, and clearly communicate the reforms to Nigerians.

“It is undeniable that the tax laws have been fundamentally altered,” Obi said. “Even a firm as esteemed as KPMG has highlighted serious gaps—from drafting errors to policy inconsistencies. If experts require private meetings to navigate these laws, what hope does the average Nigerian have of understanding their obligations?”

He emphasized that taxation is more than fiscal policy—it is a social contract between the government and its citizens. “A tax system that does not deliver clear public benefits—like healthcare, education, jobs, infrastructure, and social safety nets—is not reform; it is extortion,” Obi said.

He also lamented the lack of public consultation on the laws. “Citizens are being thrust into a complex tax regime without clarity or understanding of what they will receive in return. Without trust, taxation feels like punishment. Without transparency, it breeds confusion. Without evident public value, it amounts to robbery.”

Obi called for the government to engage with citizens, prioritize national consensus, and ensure that taxation genuinely contributes to public welfare before imposing additional burdens on Nigerians already grappling with soaring food and transport costs.