Tax Reform: I receive treats for fixing broken Nigeria—- Oyedele
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Taiwo Oyedele Says He Gets Threats for Trying to Fix Nigeria’s Tax System 🇳🇬
Taiwo Oyedele, who leads the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms in Nigeria, said he has been getting threats because of the changes he is trying to bring to the country’s tax system. He made this clear at an event in Abuja that was held to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman.
Oyedele explained that tax reform in Nigeria is difficult because people are used to the old system and the change affects many interests that don’t want things to change. He said that real reform is not easy and that it takes courage because a lot of people don’t understand the changes. He added that just trying to fix the system has brought him threats on his life.
He pointed out that many Nigerians have very low trust in government and that there is a weak culture of paying taxes. People often do not see the link between the money they pay in taxes and the benefits they should get, such as good schools, roads, hospitals, or public services. Because of this, many people misunderstand the reforms and think the government is imposing new taxes. In fact, he said, the aim is to reduce some taxes and make them consistent and fair across the country.
Why These Reforms Matter
Nigeria’s government earns much less from tax than many other countries that are similar in size and population. Oyedele said this has made reform necessary. He said many parts of the tax system have not worked well for years. Instead of solving problems, the old approach was like a “pain reliever” that only provided temporary relief and did not fix the real problems. But the new reforms are more like surgery — it might hurt at first, but it is needed to fix the deeper issues.
He explained that tax reforms have risks. They are hard politically because some people benefit from the old system or resist change. They are hard economically because they can impact business and people’s finances in the short term. And reputationally, people pushing change can be criticised or misunderstood. For these reasons, he said it takes strong courage to continue.
Although many people have misunderstood the reforms and think that new taxes are being introduced everywhere, Oyedele said what the government is doing is actually reducing some taxes and combining others so that the tax system becomes simpler and fairer. He urged Nigerians who do understand and support the reforms to speak out so that negative views don’t dominate the conversation.
Public Misunderstanding and Misinformation
A big problem with the reform process, Oyedele said, is that many Nigerians do not really understand what the reforms mean. Some people think the government is adding more taxes, when actually the plan is to reduce certain taxes and bring them together into simpler laws. This misunderstanding has caused fear and anger in parts of the public.
To help fix that, Oyedele believes there needs to be better communication and explanation so that people understand the changes. This includes explaining how tax collection works and showing more clearly what the benefits will be for the country in the long term.
Threats and Risks Faced by Reformers
Oyedele said he has faced threats and insults online simply because he is leading the reform effort. Some of these threats are serious, including death threats. But he said he is not backing down and that he is ready to continue because he believes the changes are important for Nigeria’s future.
He said that if people do not reform the tax system, Nigeria will continue to struggle with low tax revenue. And without enough money from taxes, the government will not be able to fund important public services or reduce borrowing. So while reform is risky and sometimes painful, he said it is necessary for long-term stability.
New Tax Laws Began on January 1, 2026
The Nigerian government began enforcing major tax reform laws on January 1, 2026. These include four new laws:
1. Nigeria Tax Act 2025
2. Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025
3. Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025
4. Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act 2025
These laws were created to simplify tax rules, improve how taxes are collected, and make sure the system is fairer. The government hopes the reforms will help increase the money it earns from taxes while making things easier and clearer for taxpayers.
Conclusion
Oyedele’s message is that tax reform is necessary for Nigeria to grow and become more financially stable. Even though many people oppose the changes and some have even threatened him personally, he believes that fixing the system will help the country in the long run. He has asked Nigerians who support the reforms to speak up so that good voices can balance the criticism and misinformation.
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