The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has disclosed that he has received threats to his life over his role in driving Nigeria’s far-reaching tax reforms.
Oyedele made the revelation in Abuja on Tuesday while speaking at a governance colloquium organised to mark the 50th birthday of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala-Usman.
According to him, pushing reforms that challenge entrenched interests in a system resistant to change requires uncommon courage.
“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 identified deep mistrust of government, weak tax compliance culture and poor understanding of fiscal exchange as key obstacles confronting the reform process. He noted that Nigeria’s tax revenue remains significantly lower than that of comparable countries, making comprehensive reform unavoidable.
He urged Nigerians who support the reforms to speak out, warning that silence allows opponents to shape public opinion. He stressed that mistrust remains the biggest challenge, as many citizens wrongly believe the reforms introduce new taxes.
“There is suddenly a national awareness, and people say the government has brought taxes all over the place, when in fact what we are doing is reducing the taxes they have been paying and harmonising them,” he explained.
Oyedele said implementing the reforms carries political, economic and reputational risks, adding that courage is essential to see the process through.
“You need the courage to push through. You need the courage to take risks, because it’s very risky,” he stated.
Despite facing online attacks and personal threats, he defended the reform agenda, describing past tax policies as temporary fixes.
“What we have been doing all my adult life with the tax system was a pain reliever. It hasn’t taken us far. Now we’re doing the surgery. It will come with pain, but it is the only right thing to do,” he said.
He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s reform trajectory, describing the current momentum as unprecedented and urging sustained commitment to long-term fiscal stability.
The Federal Government began enforcing the new tax regime on January 1, 2026, following the introduction of 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.
Elijah Adeyemi
