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 held to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala-Usman.
According to him, implementing reforms that disrupt entrenched interests demands uncommon courage, especially within a system historically resistant to change.
“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 identified entrenched mistrust in government, poor tax compliance, and limited public understanding of fiscal exchange as key challenges confronting the reform process. He added that Nigeria’s tax revenue remains significantly lower than that of comparable countries, making comprehensive reform unavoidable.
Oyedele called on Nigerians who support the reforms to speak out, warning that silence allows opponents to shape public opinion unchecked.
Describing trust as the most critical hurdle, he noted that many Nigerians wrongly believe the reforms introduce new taxes, when in reality they reduce and harmonise existing levies.
“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 said.
He acknowledged that the reform process carries substantial political, economic, and reputational risks, stressing that determination is essential to see it through.
“You need the courage to push through. You need the courage to take risks, because it’s very risky,” Oyedele added.
Despite facing online attacks and personal threats, he defended the reform agenda, describing previous tax policies as temporary measures that failed to deliver lasting results.
“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.
Oyedele expressed optimism about Nigeria’s trajectory, describing the current reform drive as unprecedented and urging citizens to remain committed to achieving long-term fiscal stability.
The federal government began enforcing the new tax regime on January 1, 2026, following the enactment 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.