Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has revealed that he faces life-threatening situations due to his efforts to implement comprehensive tax reforms in Nigeria.

Speaking at a governance colloquium in Abuja to mark the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Oyedele emphasized the challenges of reforming a system that affects entrenched interests.

“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.

He highlighted several obstacles to reform, including low public trust in government, poor tax compliance, and limited understanding of fiscal exchange among citizens. Oyedele noted that despite perceptions, the government is reducing and consolidating taxes rather than imposing new levies.

The federal government began enforcing new tax legislation on January 1, 2026, including:

• Nigeria Tax Act 2025
• Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025
• Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025
• Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act 2025

Oyedele stressed that the reforms require courage, political will, and the ability to take risks. He likened past efforts to “pain relievers” but described the current approach as “surgery” — necessary to fix the system despite the challenges and backlash.

He urged Nigerians to support the reforms publicly, noting that silence allows critics to dominate the narrative. Despite facing threats and online abuse, Oyedele remained optimistic, describing the current reforms as unprecedented in Nigeria’s history and crucial for sustainable fiscal development.