Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has spoken candidly about how the controversy surrounding the tax reforms impacted his family.
He revealed that the greatest sacrifice he has made in the course of his work has been the emotional toll it has taken on his family.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television on Thursday, Oyedele disclosed that his wife held daily vigils for him at the height of the scandal.
He said, “The biggest sacrifice turns out to be the emotional impact, particularly on my family.
“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.”
Oyedele, who was appointed by the president to chair the tax committee in July 2023, urged Nigerians to make it easy for public officials to do their assignments.
“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.
The tax boss, however, said the sacrifice he paid was worth it, expressing delight that the new tax laws would transform the tax landscape in Nigeria.
“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 said.
He said that the objectives of the new laws, which would take effect from January 2026, were not intended to increase taxes but to stimulate economic activity in the country and track tax evaders.
Oyedele stated that the new laws would also protect businesses and ensure that the government doesn’t tax poverty, adding that they are efficiency-driven, growth-focused, and people-centric.
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