Prioritise competence in fiscal reforms, experts urge FG

Tax and legal experts have urged the Federal Government to appoint qualified professionals to key public offices and diversify Nigeria’s revenue sources, warning that the country’s fiscal reform agenda may fall short unless it is driven by competence, merit and sound economic policies.

The experts made the call on Friday at the 6th Joint Council Retreat 2026 in Kano, organised by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, with the theme, “Beyond the Reset: Advancing Fiscal Reforms for Sustainable Economic Growth in Nigeria.”

Speaking at the retreat, the 17th President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Innocent Ohagwa, said governments and private sector employers must entrust technical and policy responsibilities to professionals capable of delivering transparent and efficient services.

He said professional bodies such as CITN and ANAN should play more strategic roles in implementing fiscal reforms and advising governments on revenue generation and public finance management.

“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 added that appointments into technical positions should be based on competence rather than political considerations if Nigeria hopes to achieve sustainable economic growth and lasting fiscal reforms.

Ohagwa also urged the Federal Government to diversify its revenue base by unlocking the economic potential of the country’s blue economy, saying Nigeria had yet to maximise the benefits of its rivers, waterways and other marine resources.

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“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 said.

Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Prof. Abdulmumin Bala Ahmed, said Nigeria’s biggest governance challenge was the failure to place qualified professionals in positions requiring technical expertise.

“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 argued that political and regional considerations often outweighed competence in public appointments, weakening institutions and undermining policy implementation.

“We often put square pegs in round holes. When competence is sacrificed for political or regional considerations, the country cannot achieve the results it desires. Professional responsibilities should be handled by professionals,” he added.

The experts also stressed the need for governments to broaden Nigeria’s non-oil revenue base by developing untapped sectors of the economy, noting that stronger fiscal discipline, professional input and diversified revenue streams would improve budget implementation and reduce overdependence on traditional sources of income.

They maintained that strengthening merit-based appointments and giving professional institutions greater roles in policy formulation would enhance fiscal reforms, improve public sector efficiency and support sustainable economic growth.