Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated tax policy expert Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance, a move that places one of the central figures behind the administration’s fiscal reform agenda inside the country’s economic policy leadership. The nomination has been forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.
If confirmed, Oyedele will replace Doris Uzoka-Anite, who currently occupies the position. As part of the government reshuffle, Uzoka-Anite is expected to be reassigned to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, where she will focus on coordinating national development planning and government budgeting priorities.
Oyedele currently serves as chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, a body established by the Tinubu administration to overhaul Nigeria’s tax framework. Since its formation in 2023, the committee has led efforts to redesign the country’s complex tax system and improve government revenue generation.
Nigeria’s current tax system includes numerous taxes and levies imposed across federal, state, and local government levels. Oyedele’s reform blueprint proposes simplifying this structure by reducing overlapping taxes, harmonising collection systems, and improving compliance mechanisms for businesses and individuals.
These reforms are particularly significant given Nigeria’s limited revenue base. According to fiscal data cited by Reuters and international institutions, the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio stands at roughly 10–11%, among the lowest globally. This weak revenue performance has historically forced the government to rely heavily on borrowing to finance budgets and infrastructure development.
Before entering government service, Oyedele built a career spanning more than two decades in international tax advisory. He worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he rose to become Africa Tax Leader and Fiscal Policy Partner. In that role, he advised governments, multinational corporations, and public institutions on tax policy design, fiscal reforms, and cross-border taxation across several African markets.
His experience includes advising on tax system modernization, public finance reforms, and policies aimed at broadening tax bases while maintaining investment competitiveness. The nomination comes as the Tinubu administration continues implementing broader economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the liberalization of the foreign exchange market. Officials hope that strengthening domestic revenue through tax reform will help stabilize public finances and reduce reliance on debt financing in the coming years.
