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 on Tuesday in Abuja 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, implementing reforms that challenge entrenched interests demands uncommon courage, especially in 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, as reported by Vanguard.
He identified deep mistrust in government, weak tax compliance, and poor public understanding of fiscal exchange as key hurdles confronting the reform process. Oyedele noted that Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains significantly lower than that of comparable countries, making comprehensive reforms unavoidable.
Urging supporters of the reforms to be more vocal, he warned that silence allows opponents to shape public perception.
“Trust is the most critical challenge,” he said, explaining that many Nigerians wrongly believe new taxes are being introduced rather than existing ones being streamlined.
“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,” Oyedele explained.
He added that the reform drive carries substantial political, economic and reputational risks, stressing that perseverance is essential.
“You need the courage to push through. You need the courage to take risks, because it’s very risky,” he said.
Despite facing online attacks and personal threats, Oyedele defended the reforms, describing past tax policies as short-term 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 stated.
He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s fiscal future, describing the current reform momentum as unprecedented and urging sustained public commitment to achieving long-term economic stability.
The Federal Government began enforcing the new tax regime on January 1, 2026, following the introduction of four major tax laws aimed at overhauling the country’s fiscal framework.
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