Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
As Nigerians are still trying to come to terms with the new tax system, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms has revealed that it requires a high level of courage to get everyone to key into the system.
He disclosed that he has received death threats for being part of implementing Nigeria’s current tax reforms.
Oyedele said this in Abuja during a governance colloquium organised to mark the 50th birthday of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala-Usman.
According to him, pushing the tax reforms requires exceptional courage, particularly in a system long resistant to change.
“Reforms are hard, and tax reforms are even harder. You need courage. I receive threats simply for trying to fix a broken system,” he stated.
The chairman said deep-seated mistrust of government, weak tax compliance culture and poor public understanding of fiscal exchange are the main obstacles to implementing the reforms.
He noted that Nigeria’s tax revenue ranks far below that of its peer nations; therefore, comprehensive reforms are an inevitability.
“There is suddenly a national awareness, and people say the government has brought taxes all over the place, when in fact what we are doing is reducing the taxes they have been paying and harmonising them.
“You need the courage to push through. You need the courage to take risks, because it’s very risky.
“What we have been doing all my adult life with the tax system was a pain reliever. It hasn’t taken us far. Now we’re doing the surgery. It will come with pain, but it is the only right thing to do,” Oyedele said.
