Chairman of Nigeria’s Presidential Committee on Tax Policy and Fiscal Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that he was forced to abandon his home to live in a secret location under armed protection, following a series of death threats linked to his sweeping tax reform efforts.
Speaking during a live interview on Nigeria Info FM, Oyedele disclosed that the threats began shortly after he moved to block more than 60 government agencies from illegally collecting taxes and levies across the country.
“I had to pack out of my house,” he said. “I now live in a rented place in a secret location. I’m not someone who likes being followed around by armed guards, but I had no choice—I had to accept mobile police protection.”
Oyedele, a former Africa Tax Lead at PwC, is spearheading efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s complex and often abused tax system. But his reform drive has faced stiff resistance from entrenched interests.
“These are not ordinary people. They are powerful individuals with deep pockets and strong political connections,” he said. “They’ve been benefiting from illegal tax streams for years, so naturally, they will resist any attempt to shut them down.”
The threats have taken an emotional toll on his family, Oyedele said. His wife, gripped by fear, has resorted to nightly fasting and struggles to function during the day. His 80-year-old mother, distressed by media reports, also began fasting and eventually developed an ulcer.
“There’s a part of this sacrifice that the public doesn’t see,” he said. “If you're not in public office to steal, it becomes a very difficult and unappealing space to be in.”
Despite the threats, Oyedele’s committee achieved a major milestone when President Bola Tinubu signed four landmark tax bills into law on June 26. The new laws—the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service Act, and Joint Tax Board Act—will take effect from January 1, 2026.
The reforms are designed to simplify tax compliance, end the illegal collection of taxes by unauthorized agencies, and protect low- and middle-income earners.
Under the new framework, Nigerians earning N110,000 or less per month will be exempt from Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax. Those in the middle-income bracket will benefit from tax relief, while high-income earners making over N2 million monthly will pay more—up to a new top tax rate of 25 percent.
Oyedele says the reforms are not only about increasing revenue but about restoring fairness and accountability to the tax system.
“These changes are meant to bring sanity, equity, and transparency,” he said. “But as we’ve seen, doing the right thing often comes at a personal cost.”
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