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 ongoing efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system.
Oyedele made the revelation on Tuesday while speaking at a colloquium held to mark the 50th birthday of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala-Usman. He said pursuing reforms that challenge entrenched interests in Nigeria requires exceptional courage.
“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.
According to him, several long-standing challenges continue to hinder meaningful reform. He identified deep public mistrust of government, weak tax compliance, and poor understanding of fiscal exchange as major obstacles.
Oyedele also noted that Nigeria’s tax revenue remains significantly lower than that of comparable economies, making reform unavoidable if the country hopes to achieve sustainable economic growth.
He warned that without comprehensive changes, Nigeria would continue to face difficulties in revenue mobilisation and public service delivery. Despite the risks involved, Oyedele stressed that failing to act would be even more damaging to the country’s future.
