“THREATS COME WITH TAX REFORM DUTIES — TAIWO OYEDELE”
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, Mr. taiwo oyedele, has revealed that he faces life-threatening situations due to his role in implementing comprehensive tax reforms in Nigeria.
Oyedele made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during a governance colloquium held to celebrate the 50th birthday of hajiya hadiza bala usman, special adviser to the president on policy and coordination.
Speaking at the event, the tax reform chief highlighted the challenges of implementing changes that affect powerful interests.
“Reforms are difficult, and tax reforms are even harder. you need courage. I receive threats simply for trying to fix a broken system,” he said.
He explained that the reform process faces several obstacles, including widespread mistrust of government, poor tax compliance, and limited public understanding of fiscal responsibilities.
Oyedele noted that Nigeria’s tax revenue collection remains far below that of comparable countries, making reforms necessary.
He urged Nigerians who support the reforms to speak up, warning that staying silent allows critics to control the narrative.
The federal government began enforcing new tax legislation on January 1, 2026, introducing 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.
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Oyedele identified trust as a major challenge, noting that both public trust in government and internal trust within government are low. he added that weak tax culture means many Nigerians remain unaware of their tax obligations.
He also highlighted a communication gap, where citizens mistakenly believe new taxes are being imposed, when the government is actually reducing and consolidating existing levies.
“Suddenly there is national awareness, and people say taxes are everywhere, when in fact the government is reducing what citizens have been paying and harmonizing them,” he explained.
The chairman stressed that implementing reforms requires courage and political determination.
“You need courage to push through and take risks because it is very risky,” he said, noting political, economic, and reputational challenges involved.
Despite facing online abuse and threats, Oyedele defended the approach, saying:
“All my adult life in the tax system was like a pain reliever. it hasn’t taken us far. now we’re doing the surgery. it will be painful, but it is the right thing to do.”
He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s progress, calling current reforms unprecedented in his lifetime and urging persistence to achieve the desired results.
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