WATAF Pushes for Stronger Media Partnership to Drive Tax Awareness Across West Africa

Abuja, Nigeria: The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) is calling for a deeper and more strategic partnership with the media to boost tax awareness and strengthen public understanding of how taxation fuels development across the region.

Executive Secretary Jules Tapsoba made the call Tuesday at WATAF Headquarters in Abuja during a courtesy visit by Nduka Chiejina, immediate past Chairman of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN).

Tapsoba stressed that improving tax compliance in West Africa depends not only on policy reforms, but also on how clearly tax systems are explained to the public.

“Citizens must see the direct link between the taxes they pay and the development they experience. The media plays a crucial role in making that connection clear and relatable,” he said.

He pointed out that transparent, simplified tax processes are key to building trust and increasing revenue, noting that journalists remain one of the most trusted channels for public education.

According to him, professional and responsible reporting also drive accountability, ensuring that governments demonstrate how tax revenues are utilized for public benefit.

The visit also created an avenue for engagement with WATAF’s newly appointed Manager for Communication and IT, Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh, as the organization intensifies efforts to strengthen communication and stakeholder outreach across member states.

Reaffirming WATAF’s commitment, Tapsoba said the institution will continue to collaborate with media professionals to elevate tax discourse, improve public literacy on fiscal issues, and support domestic resource mobilization across West Africa.

For his part, Chiejina, a journalist with The Nation Newspaper and member of the African Tax Media Network, praised WATAF’s leadership in bridging the gap between tax institutions and the media.

He called for sustained collaboration, emphasizing the need for more visibility on how taxation contributes to national and regional development.