Finance Minister Calls for Stronger Tax Cooperation in West Africa

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele urged for stronger regional collaboration to deepen tax administration reforms and improve compliance with ECOWAS tax directives, aiming to enhance domestic revenue mobilization across West Africa. This call was made during a courtesy visit from a delegation of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), led by its Executive Secretary, Jule Tapsoba Sulio, at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja.

Oyedele highlighted the importance of expanding the tax base, improving revenue collection, and reducing dependence on borrowing. He encouraged WATAF to play a proactive role in monitoring compliance with regional tax agreements and developing practical benchmark tools for assessing member states' compliance.

The statement also noted the need for WATAF to broaden its benchmark initiatives to showcase best practices in tax administration, including digital taxation. The meeting concluded with a commitment to enhance collaboration among member countries to advance domestic revenue mobilization and harmonize tax policies across the region.