Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of Nigeria’s Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has revealed that he is receiving death threats and facing serious personal risks due to his leadership in implementing the country’s sweeping tax reforms.
Oyedele made this disclosure on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, while speaking at a governance colloquium in Abuja held to celebrate the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.
Here are key highlights from his statement:
- He described tax reforms as particularly challenging because they disrupt entrenched powerful interests and require exceptional courage to push through.
- “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.
- Oyedele highlighted additional challenges, including low public trust in government, a weak tax compliance culture, and widespread misunderstandings—many Nigerians believe the reforms introduce new taxes, when in reality, they aim to reduce, harmonize, and streamline existing levies.
- He noted that Nigeria’s tax revenue remains significantly lower than in comparable countries, making these changes essential for sustainable development.
- Despite online abuse, reputational risks, and personal threats (including death threats), he urged supporters of the reforms to speak up, warning that silence allows opponents and misinformation to dominate the narrative.
The reforms officially took effect on January 1, 2026, anchored on four major laws:
- Nigeria Tax Act 2025
- Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025
- Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025
- Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act 2025
These aim to simplify the tax system, boost revenue collection, eliminate multiple taxation, and promote fairness and economic growth.
Here are some recent images of Taiwo Oyedele from public sources, showing him in professional settings related to his role:
This revelation comes amid ongoing public debate and implementation of the reforms, which Oyedele has previously defended as necessary “surgery” for Nigeria’s fiscal health, despite the short-term challenges and resistance from vested interests.
The news has been widely reported across Nigerian media outlets like Punch, Daily Post, ThisDay, and others on January 14, 2026. Stay informed as the conversation around these critical changes continues!