Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has urged West African countries to work more closely in improving tax administration, increasing government revenue, and ensuring better compliance with regional tax agreements.
The minister made the appeal during a meeting with officials from the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja. The delegation was led by WATAF’s Executive Secretary, Jules Tapsoba Sulio.
According to a statement released by the ministry, the meeting focused on ways to strengthen cooperation among West African countries as they seek to improve tax collection and reduce their dependence on loans and unstable income from natural resources.
Oyedele praised WATAF for its efforts since its establishment in 2011, saying the organisation has played an important role in helping member countries improve their tax systems. However, he stressed that the forum should become more active in ensuring that member states follow the tax policies and directives agreed upon by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He suggested that WATAF should introduce practical tools such as performance scorecards and benchmarking systems that would measure how well countries are implementing regional tax agreements. According to him, these tools would encourage accountability, improve transparency, and allow countries to learn from one another’s successes.
The minister also encouraged the regional organisation to identify and promote successful tax administration models across West Africa. He said sharing best practices in areas such as digital tax systems, taxation of the informal sector, and wider tax policy reforms would help member countries modernise their tax systems more quickly.
Oyedele noted that stronger cooperation would not only improve tax collection but also strengthen government finances and support long-term economic development across the region.
Speaking during the meeting, WATAF Executive Secretary Jules Tapsoba Sulio congratulated the minister on his appointment and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria and other member countries. He said WATAF would continue to provide technical assistance, research, training, digital transformation support, and capacity-building programmes to improve tax administration throughout West Africa.
Sulio also commended Nigeria for its consistent support of the organisation over the years. He noted that the country’s financial contributions, technical expertise, and institutional backing have played a major role in WATAF’s growth and achievements.
Both parties agreed to strengthen their partnership in several key areas, including domestic revenue generation, regional tax harmonisation, digital transformation, and staff development.
Nigeria has continued to reform its tax system in recent years through digital technology, policy changes, and institutional reforms aimed at expanding the tax base, improving compliance, and increasing non-oil revenue. These reforms are part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen public finances, reduce dependence on oil income, and support sustainable economic growth.
Founded in 2011, WATAF works with tax authorities across West Africa to promote cooperation, knowledge sharing, technical support, and stronger tax institutions. The organisation also plays an important role in encouraging regional economic integration by helping member countries build more effective and transparent tax systems.
