The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has disclosed the personal sacrifices his family endured during the turbulent early days of Nigeria’s tax reform process.
The revelation came during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed four new tax bills into law.
Oyedele, a former tax leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, shared how the intense public scrutiny affected his household: “The biggest sacrifice turns out to be the emotional impact, particularly on my family. At the height of it, there were people who would cook up stories on blogs, and in newspapers. And it took a toll on my family.”
He revealed his wife’s devoted response to the pressure: “My wife, for example, was doing night vigils every night and struggled to stay awake the following day. Thank God my kids are still too young. So, they don’t know what I am going through. But it’s been tough, it’s a big sacrifice.”
The tax reform expert made a heartfelt appeal to Nigerians regarding public service: “I think it’s important to make the point that if Nigerians truly want a better country, they should not discourage honest people who want to help. It’s already a tough decision to try and work in the public sector. Making it harder than it ought to be is not helpful.”
Oyedele also disclosed his financial sacrifice in serving the nation: “In terms of the financial sacrifices, maybe that is now even smaller looking back. The amount the government was going to pay was going to be ridiculous. So, I said: just cover the cost of what you asked me to do; you don’t need to pay me a salary. And I’m also fine with that. It’s a small sacrifice in the context that this can make.”
Despite the challenges, Oyedele expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating the personal costs were worthwhile given the transformative potential of the new tax laws. He was appointed by President Tinubu to lead the tax committee in July 2023, embarking on what would become a demanding but ultimately rewarding national assignment.
