Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has called on West African countries to strengthen cooperation on tax administration to improve revenue generation, enhance compliance and accelerate economic growth across the region.
Oyedele made the call during a regional engagement with tax administrators and policymakers, where he stressed the need for member states to work more closely in implementing ECOWAS tax directives and harmonising tax policies to address common economic challenges.
According to the minister, stronger collaboration among tax authorities would help improve domestic revenue mobilisation, reduce tax leakages and create a more transparent and efficient tax system across West Africa.
He noted that many countries in the sub-region face similar tax administration challenges, including tax evasion, illicit financial flows and weak compliance, adding that coordinated regional action is necessary to overcome these issues.
Oyedele also encouraged member states to deepen information sharing, adopt modern technology in tax administration and strengthen institutional capacity to improve tax collection without placing unnecessary burdens on businesses and citizens.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting regional initiatives aimed at promoting fiscal reforms and sustainable economic development, saying effective tax systems remain critical to financing infrastructure, public services and long-term growth across the ECOWAS region.
He further urged tax authorities across West Africa to build stronger partnerships that would encourage policy coordination, improve compliance with regional tax frameworks and strengthen confidence in public financial management.