Tax Laws: Oyedele clarifies alleged alterations, disinformation creating panic among Nigerians + Interview

*Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, speaks on Nigeria’s t𝐚𝐱 r𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦s, alleged alterations to the new gazetted Tax Acts, and i𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 of the entire legislation and proposed implementation process

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to certain misinformation about the imminent implementation of the new Nigerian Tax Laws from January 1, 2026, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, clarified some misconceptions about t𝐚𝐱 r𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦s, alleged alterations to the new gazetted Tax Acts, and p𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 i𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 in the tax legislation and administration ecosystem.

ConsumerConnect reports Mr. Oyedele made the clarifications while featuring on a recent Channels TV programme monitored in Lagos.

The Chairman of the Tax Reforms Committee particularly discussed recent issues about the gazetted copies of the new tax laws.

Purported alteration claims a ‘process, governance issue’, not politics

Oyedele stated: “To be clear, this is not a Legislative versus Executive blame game, nor is it politics. It is a process and governance issue.”

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Regarding his responses to questions raised about the purported alterations in the newly-gazetted tax instruments, he acknowledged that he, some Principal Officers of the National Assembly (NASS), and top government officials actually witnessed the signing of the harmonised versions of the four Tax Acts from the Senate and House of Representatives in NASS into laws by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Oyedele, however, stated that their presence in the State House, Abuja, FCT, at the time President Tinubu signed the Tax Acts into Laws did not mean that such top officials could have had a last-minute opportunity to re-examine the voluminous documents line-by-line before the Presidential assented to them.

He further said: “Tax policy affects citizens directly, being at the centre of the social contract.

“So, it must be anchored in trust and facts, not fear or misinformation which only creates uncertainty and further undermines confidence.”

As regards the orchestrated disinformation in the public space, the Chairman of the Committee noted the viral document claiming specific alterations to the Tax Laws, which were presented as the report of the Committee constituted to investigate the issue surfaced, when the Committee had not even met to deliberates on issues.

Rejecting or stalling reforms not a neutral choice, says Oyedele

Amid the topical issue of Tax Laws as a public discourse, Oyedele cautioned Nigerians, noting “rather than spreading misinformation, we should seize this moment to strengthen our processes, deepen accountability, and build a tax system that moves Nigeria forward.”

According to him, rejecting or stalling reforms is not a neutral choice in this regard.

He added: “It means preserving a broken system that over-taxes workers, hurts small businesses, sustains multiple and nuisance taxes, and distorts economic growth” in Nigeria.

In a related development, the Chairman of the Committee Tuesday, December 23, 2025, urged Nigerian consumers to not “let anyone manipulate you. Your bank account is safe.”

Oyedele restated: “Misinformation makes you panic and fear a reform that is designed to help you. When they tell you that your account will be frozen, or automatically debited from January 2026, ask them for the evidence in the new law. Be wise!”

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