My wife prayed every night as I faced tax reform backlash – Oyedele
By Jeffrey Agbo
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that the backlash surrounding Nigeria’s new tax reforms deeply affected his emotional well-being and placed a significant strain on his family.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, just hours after President Bola Tinubu signed four new tax bills into law on Thursday, the former PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) executive described the experience as one of personal sacrifice.
“The biggest sacrifice turns out to be the emotional impact, particularly on my family,” he said.
Oyedele recounted how online misinformation and media attacks during the height of the controversy took a toll on his household. He said his wife stayed up nightly in prayer out of concern for his safety and well-being.
“At the height of it, there were people who would cook up stories on blogs, and in newspapers, and it took a toll on my family.
“My wife, for example, was doing night vigils every night and struggled to stay awake the following day.
“Thank God my kids are still too young. So, they don’t know what I am going through but it’s been tough, it’s a big sacrifice,” he added.
READ MORE: NJC recommends sack of 10 Imo Judges, 9 of them for falsifying their age to “stay longer in service”
Appointed by the president in July 2023 to lead the tax reform committee, Oyedele urged citizens to create an environment that allows well-meaning individuals to serve the nation without undue pressure.
“I think it’s important to make the point that if Nigerians truly want a better country, they should not discourage honest people who want to help.
“It’s already a tough decision to try and work in the public sector. Making it harder than it ought to be is not helpful,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Oyedele expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the process, saying that the reforms would significantly improve Nigeria’s tax system and economic outlook.
“In terms of the financial sacrifices, maybe that is now even smaller looking back. The amount the government was going to pay was going to be ridiculous.
“So, I said: just cover the cost of what you asked me to do; you don’t need to pay me a salary. And I’m also fine with that. It’s a small sacrifice in the context that this can make,” he stated.
He clarified that the new laws, which take effect from January 2026, are not aimed at increasing taxes but are designed to boost economic activity, curb tax evasion, and shield low-income earners and businesses from undue tax burdens.
According to him, the reforms are built on principles of efficiency, growth, and people-focused governance.
Before their passage, the proposed tax laws were mired in controversy and faced strong resistance, particularly from some state governors who feared the reforms could cripple their ability to pay workers’ salaries.
The Presidency and the National Assembly, however, maintained that extensive consultations were held with relevant stakeholders nationwide and that the concerns raised had been addressed.
President Tinubu, while assenting to the four tax bills on Thursday, described them as critical to his administration’s reform agenda and the nation’s long-term prosperity.
The new laws include the Nigeria Tax Bill (Ease of Doing Business), which seeks to unify the country’s fragmented tax regulations; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, aimed at standardizing tax processes across all tiers of government; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, which replaces the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act; and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
