Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has said misinformation remains the most serious obstacle facing Nigeria’s new tax reform agenda.
Oyedele explained that the reform process has been plagued by misleading claims and incorrect interpretations, even before recent allegations of alterations to the tax laws emerged.
The four tax reform bills signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are expected to take effect on January 1, 2026, but public debate around the policies has continued to generate divided opinions.
Speaking on Channels Television, Oyedele addressed calls by some stakeholders for a pause in implementation to prevent possible confusion in January.
“So I think you know, I’ll also tell you that even before this alleged alteration issue came up, there are people who have been calling for suspension,” he said.
“There are people who have been saying no to the reform. We cannot do it for whatever reason. The biggest issue we’ve had to deal with, and that we’re still dealing with, has been misinformation.”
He clarified that any decision to delay or suspend the implementation of the law does not lie with the reform committee.
“Now, if you speak to the legal provisions and who has the powers, even if we want to postpone the implementation of the law, it has to be the lawmakers. That’s far beyond my pay grade. So that decision has to be made, and I believe that decision for them will be a function of what their findings from this investigation review are,” Oyedele said.
According to him, certain interests are actively recruiting unsuspecting Nigerians to oppose reforms that are intended to serve the broader public, thereby spreading fear and confusion.
Oyedele warned that halting the reforms would simply preserve an unfair and inefficient tax system.
“What is the cost of suspending it or not going ahead with the reform? It will mean simply that we continue with the status quo, which is that 98% of workers remain overtaxed.”
He noted that small businesses would continue to miss out on tax exemptions and remain burdened by multiple levies, while large companies would still face numerous nuisance taxes.
He added that minimum taxes would continue to apply to low-income earners and struggling businesses, while hidden VAT would keep pushing up the cost of basic needs such as food, healthcare and education.
Oyedele also said that wasteful and economy-distorting incentives would remain in place if the reforms are abandoned, urging Nigerians to carefully consider the implications of opposing the changes.
“So we need to be clear about what we are asking for,” he said.
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