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.
