New Tax Law: “I received threats for trying to fix a broken system” – Taiwo Oyedele

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that he has received threats to his life over efforts to reform Nigeria’s tax system.

Oyedele made the disclosure on Tuesday while speaking at a 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, pushing reforms that threaten entrenched interests in Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted.

“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.

Oyedele explained that several long-standing issues continue to slow down meaningful reform in the country.

He pointed to deep mistrust of government, a weak tax compliance culture, and poor public understanding of fiscal exchange as major obstacles.

He also noted that Nigeria’s tax revenue is still far below that of comparable countries, making reforms unavoidable if the nation wants to move forward economically.

Oyedele stressed that without comprehensive changes, Nigeria will continue to struggle with revenue generation and public service delivery.

For Oyedele, the message is clear: fixing Nigeria’s tax system may be dangerous but doing nothing could cost the country even more.