Oyedele Receives Death Threats Over Tax Reform Efforts
The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that he has received death threats for his role in implementing Nigeria’s ambitious tax reforms.
Oyedele made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during a governance colloquium marking the 50th birthday of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala-Usman.
“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.
Overcoming Resistance: The Challenges of Tax Reform
According to Oyedele, several deep-rooted issues make implementing Nigeria’s tax reforms difficult:
Deep-seated mistrust of government
Weak tax compliance culture
Poor public understanding of fiscal exchange
He emphasized that Nigeria’s tax revenue remains far below that of peer nations, making comprehensive reforms a necessity rather than a choice.
Reducing Taxes While Harmonising the System
Oyedele explained that the reforms are not about increasing taxes indiscriminately but reducing and harmonising existing taxes.
“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 said.
He added that implementing these reforms is risky and may involve temporary discomfort but is essential for sustainable fiscal growth.
“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,” Oyedele concluded.
