Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has identified misinformation as the biggest challenge facing Nigeria’s new tax reforms.

Speaking on Channels Television, Oyedele addressed calls from some quarters to suspend the implementation of the reforms ahead of their January 1, 2026 rollout. He noted that despite divergent opinions, much of the opposition stems from misunderstandings about the new policies.

“The biggest issue we’ve had to deal with, and are still dealing with, has been misinformation. Some people are recruiting unsuspecting Nigerians to fight reforms that are meant to benefit the generality of the people,” Oyedele said.

The four executive bills signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aim to streamline tax processes, reduce multiple levies on workers and businesses, and eliminate hidden VAT that raises the cost of essential goods like food, healthcare, and education. Oyedele warned that delaying the reforms would perpetuate the current system, where:

• 98% of workers remain overtaxed.
• Small businesses continue to face multiple tax burdens.
• Large firms pay unnecessary nuisance taxes.
• Distortive incentives continue to hamper economic growth.

“If we suspend the reform, we simply continue with the status quo, which harms workers, small businesses, and the economy as a whole,” he added.

Oyedele emphasized that any decision to postpone the reforms lies with lawmakers, not the committee, and urged Nigerians to understand the benefits of the new system.