Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that his role in Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms has exposed him to threats to his personal safety.
Oyedele made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at a governance colloquium held to mark the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination. He described tax reform as one of the most difficult and risky aspects of governance, particularly because it challenges 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,” Oyedele said.
He explained that Nigeria’s tax system is plagued by low public trust in government, weak compliance, and limited understanding among citizens about how taxes translate into public services. According to him, Nigeria’s tax revenue is far below that of comparable countries, making reform unavoidable.
Oyedele urged Nigerians who support the reforms to speak up, warning that silence allows critics to dominate public discourse. He confirmed that the Federal Government began implementing new tax laws on January 1, 2026.
The reforms are anchored on four major legislations: the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act 2025.
He identified trust as a major obstacle, noting that many Nigerians misunderstand the reforms, wrongly believing they introduce new taxes rather than harmonise and reduce existing ones.
“What the government is doing is to reduce those taxes they have been paying and harmonise them,” he said.
Despite threats, online attacks and political risks, Oyedele insisted the reforms are necessary, likening the process to surgery rather than temporary relief.
“What we have been doing all along was pain reliever. Now we’re doing the surgery. It’s going to come with some pain, but that’s the only right thing to do,” he said, expressing confidence that the reforms represent the most significant progress he has seen in Nigeria’s tax system.
