Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has disclosed that his role in driving Nigeria’s far-reaching tax overhaul has exposed him to threats against his personal safety.
Oyedele made the revelation on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at a governance colloquium held to celebrate the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.
In his address, the tax reform lead stressed that reforming long-standing systems is both difficult and risky, especially when such changes disrupt 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 told participants.
He explained that Nigeria’s tax reform agenda is grappling with multiple challenges, including low confidence in government, poor tax compliance, and a weak public understanding of how tax payments translate into public services.
According to Oyedele, the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains significantly lower than that of peer nations, making comprehensive reforms unavoidable rather than optional.
He called on Nigerians who support the reform process to be more vocal, warning that silence creates space for critics and vested interests to shape public opinion.
Oyedele disclosed that the Federal Government began implementing the new tax framework on January 1, 2026, anchored on four major 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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Trust, he said, remains a major obstacle.
“The trust in government and within government is very low,” Oyedele noted, adding that Nigeria’s weak tax culture has left many citizens unaware of their obligations.
He also pointed to widespread misinformation surrounding the reforms, explaining that many Nigerians wrongly believe new taxes are being introduced.
“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.
Emphasising the risks involved, Oyedele said pushing the reforms through requires 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, citing political, economic and reputational consequences.
Despite threats and sustained online attacks, he insisted the reforms are unavoidable, likening the process to a necessary but painful operation.
“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.”
Oyedele expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, describing the ongoing tax reforms as the most meaningful progress he has witnessed so far and urging sustained commitment to ensure lasting impact.