Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has disclosed that his role in Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms has exposed him to threats to his personal safety.
Oyedele made the revelation on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at a governance colloquium organised to mark the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.
According to him, pushing reforms that challenge entrenched interests comes with serious risks.
“Reforms are hard, and tax reforms are even harder. You need courage. I receive threats simply for trying to fix a broken system,” he said.
Oyedele explained that Nigeria’s tax reform agenda faces deep-rooted challenges, including low public trust in government, weak tax compliance, and poor understanding of the link between taxes paid and public services delivered.
He noted that Nigeria’s tax revenue remains far below that of comparable countries, making reform unavoidable.
He urged Nigerians who support the reforms to speak up, warning that silence gives room for opponents to dominate public discourse.
“If you believe in the reforms and keep quiet, those who oppose it will control the narrative,” he said.
Oyedele disclosed that the Federal Government began implementing the new tax laws on January 1, 2026.
The reforms are anchored on four key legislations: 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 stressed that lack of trust remains one of the biggest obstacles to success.
“The trust in government and within government is very low,” he said, adding that Nigeria suffers from a weak tax culture, with many citizens unaware of their tax obligations.
Oyedele also pointed to a major communication gap, explaining that many Nigerians mistakenly believe the reforms introduce new taxes.
“Suddenly, there is a national awareness, and people say the government has come with taxes all over the place, when actually what the government is doing is to reduce the taxes they have been paying and harmonise them,” he explained.
He emphasised that driving the reforms requires strong political will and personal bravery.
“You need that courage to push through, you need the courage to take risks, because it’s very risky,” he said, referring to the political, economic and reputational dangers involved.
Despite the threats and online attacks, Oyedele insisted that the current approach is necessary.
“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 expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, describing the ongoing tax reforms as the most significant progress he has witnessed and calling for sustained commitment to achieve long-term results.
