Tax and legal experts have urged the Federal Government to prioritise competence in public appointments and diversify Nigeria’s revenue sources, warning that ongoing fiscal reforms may not achieve sustainable economic growth unless driven by qualified professionals and sound economic policies.
The call was made on Friday at the 6th Joint Council Retreat 2026, organised by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) in Kano. The retreat was themed, “Beyond the Reset: Advancing Fiscal Reforms for Sustainable Economic Growth in Nigeria.”
Speaking at the event, the 17th President and Chairman of the Council of CITN, Innocent Ohagwa, said governments and private organisations should entrust technical and policy responsibilities to professionals with the expertise required to deliver effective results.
“Government and other employers of labour should give professionals the opportunity to contribute their expertise. When qualified people are allowed to do the jobs they are trained for, service delivery becomes more efficient, transparent and effective,” Ohagwa said.
He argued that appointments into technical offices should be based on competence rather than political considerations, adding that professional bodies such as CITN and ANAN should play greater roles in shaping fiscal reforms and advising governments on revenue generation and public finance management.
Ohagwa also urged the Federal Government to diversify the economy by harnessing Nigeria’s blue economy, noting that the country’s waterways and marine resources remained largely untapped despite their huge revenue potential.
“We have enormous opportunities in the blue economy, but we are known for starting initiatives without completing them. We need to explore these opportunities and provide government with practical advice on how to generate more revenue from the sector,” he added.
Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Prof. Abdulmumin Bala Ahmed, said Nigeria’s governance challenges were worsened by the failure to place qualified professionals in positions requiring specialised knowledge.
“If you really want to get somewhere, ask the person who knows the road. Professionals are the ones who should guide policy development because they possess the knowledge required to deliver results,” Ahmed said.
He lamented that competence was often sacrificed for political and regional considerations, weakening public institutions and undermining policy implementation.
The experts further urged governments at all levels to broaden Nigeria’s non-oil revenue base, strengthen fiscal discipline and involve professional institutions more actively in policy formulation to improve public sector efficiency and budget implementation.
West Trybe reports that Nigeria has intensified efforts to reform its fiscal and tax administration as the Federal Government seeks to expand non-oil revenue, improve public finance management and reduce dependence on crude oil earnings.
