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They Want Me Dead For Fixing the System — Taiwo Oyedele

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Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of Nigeria’s Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has publicly stated that he receives death threats because of his efforts to reform the country’s tax system.

Oyedele made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at a governance colloquium organised to mark the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.

Addressing participants at the event, Oyedele underscored the complexity and risks associated with reforming entrenched systems, particularly those that challenge powerful 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 said.

He noted that the reform agenda is confronted by deep-rooted challenges, including low public trust in government, weak tax compliance, and limited understanding among citizens about the relationship between taxes paid and public services delivered.

Oyedele explained that Nigeria’s tax revenue remains far below that of comparable countries, making reform not just necessary but unavoidable.

He urged Nigerians who believe in the reforms to speak up, warning that silence allows opponents to dominate public discourse.

According to him, the Federal Government commenced the implementation of 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.

Trust, Oyedele said, remains one of the most critical barriers to progress.

“The trust in government and within government is very low,” he observed, adding that many Nigerians are unaware of their tax responsibilities due to a weak tax culture.

He also highlighted a major communication gap, noting that many citizens wrongly assume the reforms introduce new taxes rather than streamline existing ones.

“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.

Oyedele emphasized that pushing through the reforms demands bravery and firm political will.

“You need that courage to push through, you need the courage to take risks, because it’s very risky,” he said, pointing to the political, economic, and reputational dangers involved.

Despite facing threats and online attacks, the tax reform chief maintained 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 confidence in Nigeria’s future, describing the present reforms as the most significant progress he has witnessed and calling for sustained commitment to achieve long-term results.

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Fidelity Bank Improves Access To Quality Education In Anambra  

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Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing quality education and youth empowerment with the renovation of an administrative building to Community Secondary School, Enugwuabo Ufuma, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

 

The one-storey administrative block was comprehensively renovated as part of Fidelity Bank’s interventions to address infrastructural challenges faced by the school. The renovated facility was then formally handed over to the school community at a ceremony attended by government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders.

 

Speaking at the official handover ceremony, the Regional Bank Head, Fidelity Bank Plc Awka, Dr. Nosa Orumwense, said the project underscores the bank’s long-standing commitment to investing in education as a catalyst for sustainable development.

 

“For us at Fidelity Bank, this project represents more than a building. It represents opportunity, progress, and a shared commitment to building a better future for our youths here in Enugwuabo Ufuma and beyond.

 

By improving the educational infrastructure of this community, we are providing students and teachers with an environment that promotes learning, discipline, and pride”, Orumwense added.

 

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who represented the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, described the project as a true demonstration of corporate social responsibility.

 

L-R: Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr Vera Nwadinobi; Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh; and Regional Bank Head, Fidelity Bank Plc, Awka, Dr. Nosa Orumwense; at the handover ceremony of the administrative block renovated by Fidelity Bank Plc to Community Secondary School, Enugwuabo Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State recently.

 

“Corporate social responsibility is what gives an organisation its human nature. What Fidelity Bank has done reflects compassion and a genuine commitment to touching lives”, Prof. Chuma-Udeh said.

 

This school was earlier placed on an emergency list due to the deplorable condition of its buildings. During my last visit, I was genuinely concerned about the safety of both students and teachers. Today, the school wears a new look, thanks to Fidelity Bank’s support”.

 

The Commissioner also expressed the state government’s appreciation to Fidelity Bank, saying, “We thank Fidelity Bank for this intervention, which clearly demonstrates the true meaning of corporate social responsibility – making tangible impacts that improve lives and strengthen communities”.

 

The project forms part of Fidelity Bank’s broader CSR strategy focused on empowering communities, strengthening educational institutions, and creating long-term socio-economic value across Nigeria.

 

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

 

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

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PDP A Force To Reckon With, Not Charity Organisation – Wike

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Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains a formidable political force in the country and not a charity organisation.

 

Wike made the remarks at the 105th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja on Monday night.

While warning members against viewing PDP as a charity organisation, he urged them to return to the grassroots and rebuild the party from the ward and polling unit levels.

“Forget the idea that PDP is a charity organisation. PDP remains a formidable political force despite its current challenges.

“PDP is too strong, very strong. We must capitalise on what we have and move forward,” he stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister spoke extensively on the party’s internal challenges, the ongoing legal disputes and the way forward for rebuilding it ahead of future elections.

He stressed that his concerns were solely focused on the survival, stability and success of the party nationwide.

Wike declared his keen interest in all activities of the Oyo chapter of the party, as part of efforts towards ensuring its survival and success.

While appreciating the calls for peace by the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Working Committee (NWC), Wike urged party leaders and members to remain vigilant, noting the ongoing attempts to destabilise PDP.

He cautioned that adversaries would not relent until the party was finished, but expressed confidence that such efforts would fail.

“They will not give up until they believe you are destroyed, but I will not be destroyed; you will not be destroyed. Let us move forward,” he said.

The minister expressed confidence that any attempt by those he described as “vampires” to take over the affairs of the party across the 36 states of the federation, including FCT, would fail.

He further urged PDP to rely on experience and internal capacity, noting the presence of competent legal and organising officers within the party, capable of navigating the current challenges.

“We have a competent legal adviser. We have a competent national organising secretary. Experience matters. When we combine our collective experience, the results will speak for themselves,” he said.

Wike thanked NEC members for attending the meeting at short notice and urged them to remain committed to strengthening the party as Nigeria’s leading opposition platform.

He said that the party was now waiting for the caretaker committee to issue clear directives, particularly on the conduct of the overdue congresses, which he described as “critical steps” towards organising a credible national convention.

(NAN)

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PDP Schedules National Convention For March 28, 29 In Abuja

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The Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled its National Convention for March 28 and 29, 2026, in Abuja.

 

This decision was reached during the party’s 105th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on February 2, 2026, which was held at the official residence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

 

The convention aims to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) and other statutory organs to stabilize the party following prolonged leadership disputes.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communique was read by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Haruna Mohammed, at the end of the meeting, held at the official residence of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Abuja.

 

In the communique, signed by Mohammed and the National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the party also slated ward and local government congresses for February and State congresses for March.

 

It said that the party’s NEC had directed the NCC, in collaboration with the National Organising Secretary and relevant organs of the party, to issue detailed guidelines, notices and modalities for the conduct of the congresses.

 

The communique added that the committee had further been directed to act strictly in compliance with the PDP constitution, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regulations, and judicial directives.

 

The party’s NEC also unanimously reconfirmed, ratified and reaffirmed the full content, validity, force and effect of all resolutions and decisions reached at the 104th emergency NEC meeting held on Dec. 7, 2025.

 

“That all actions taken, pursuant to the 104th NEC resolutions remain binding, lawful and operative, having been taken in strict compliance with the PDP Constitution (as amended), the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act, and relevant judicial pronouncements,” the communique stated.

 

The party’s NEC also welcomed and affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Ibadan which upheld the legality of the party’s leadership and administrative arrangements and directed INEC to recognise the duly-constituted caretaker committee.

 

The NEC equally resolved that all party organs, members and stakeholders would continue to act strictly in obedience to subsisting court judgments and judicial directives.

 

The committee, therefore, urged INEC and all relevant institutions to fully comply with the said judgment in the interest of democracy and constitutional order.

 

It further reaffirmed the legitimacy, authority and mandate of the Mohammed-led committee, with Anyanwu as Secretary.

 

The party stressed that NCC remained the only lawful national administrative organ of the party, fully empowered to act as the National Working Committee (NWC), pending the conduct of the national convention.

 

The NEC equally affirmed the extension of the tenure of the National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC) and other affected caretaker committees of the state and zonal chapters, pending the conduct of the national convention, state and zonal congresses respectively.

 

The committee further mandated the NCC to immediately activate Convention Sub-Committees and begin full logistics, administrative and consultative preparations to ensure a transparent, inclusive and credible convention.

 

It equally urged stakeholders, supporters and members of PDP across the country and in the diaspora to remain steadfast, law-abiding and committed to the ideals of the party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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