ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-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 involvement in the implementation of Nigeria’s far-reaching tax reforms.
Oyedele made the disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday at a governance colloquium held to commemorate the 50th birthday of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala-Usman.
Addressing participants at the event, Oyedele noted that driving reforms that challenge entrenched interests demands uncommon bravery, especially within a system historically resistant to change, Vanguard reports.
“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.
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He pointed to long-standing distrust in government, poor tax compliance culture and limited public understanding of fiscal exchange as key impediments to effective reform implementation.
Oyedele said Nigeria’s tax revenue remains significantly lower than that of comparable countries, making comprehensive reforms unavoidable.
He called on Nigerians who back the reforms to make their voices heard, cautioning that silence gives room for critics to control the narrative.
Describing trust as the most pressing challenge, Oyedele explained that many Nigerians wrongly perceive the reforms as the introduction of new taxes, rather than a reduction and harmonisation of 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 explained.
He added that the reform process carries considerable political, economic and reputational risks.
“You need the courage to push through. You need the courage to take risks, because it’s very risky,” he said.
Despite being subjected to online attacks and personal threats, Oyedele maintained his defence of the reform agenda, comparing past tax policies to short-term remedies.
“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.
He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s current trajectory, describing the ongoing reform drive as unprecedented and urging citizens to stay committed to the pursuit of long-term fiscal stability.
The Federal Government began enforcing the new tax regime on January 1, 2026, following the introduction of 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.