Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that his involvement in Nigeria’s sweeping tax overhaul has exposed him to serious personal risks, including threats to his life.
Oyedele made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at a governance colloquium held in honour of the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.
Addressing participants at the event, Oyedele acknowledged that pushing reforms, particularly in taxation, often provokes resistance from entrenched interests.
“Reforms are hard, and tax reforms are even harder. You need courage. I receive threats simply for trying to fix a broken system,” he stated.
He explained that the reform agenda is being hampered by deep-rooted challenges such as public distrust of government, weak tax compliance, and limited awareness among citizens about the link between taxation and public services.
According to him, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains far below that of peer countries, underscoring the urgency of reform.
Oyedele urged supporters of the reform process to speak out, warning that silence allows opponents to dominate public discourse.
The Federal Government officially began implementing a new tax regime on January 1, 2026, with the enforcement of four key laws: the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act 2025.
He identified lack of trust as a major barrier to progress, noting, “The trust in government and within government is very low,” while adding that poor tax culture has left many Nigerians unaware of their responsibilities.
Oyedele also highlighted a widespread misconception that the reforms introduce additional taxes, when in reality the government is streamlining existing ones.
“Suddenly, there is a national awareness, and they just say, the people have come with taxes all over the place when actually, what the government is doing is to reduce those taxes they have been paying, and harmonise them,” he explained.
He stressed that meaningful reform requires bold leadership and firm political will.
“You need that courage to push through, you need the courage to take risks, because it’s very risky,” he said, citing political, economic and reputational dangers.
Despite facing backlash, online attacks and threats, Oyedele maintained that the current approach is necessary for long-term progress.
“What we have been doing all along, all my adult life with the tax system, was pain reliever. It hasn’t taken us far. It can’t take us far. Now we’re doing the surgery. It’s going to come with some pain, but that’s the only right thing to do.”
He concluded by expressing confidence in Nigeria’s direction, describing the ongoing reforms as unmatched in his lifetime and calling for patience and resilience to achieve lasting results.
