Taiwo Oyedele, minister of state for finance, has admitted that Nigeria’s recently enacted tax reform laws contain errors but assures that actions are already being taken to remedy the highlighted issues.
Oyedele stated this during a fireside discussion at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Legal Practice’s annual conference in 2026.
The seminar, titled “From Policy to Practice: Making Sense of Nigeria’s New Tax Reforms,” aimed to address concerns about the country’s growing tax regime.
His words came in the midst of a dispute about tax inconsistencies. On December 17, 2025, Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives, claimed that the tax legislation available to the public differed from those established by the National Assembly.
The claim prompted the lower house to convene a seven-member team to investigate the matter.
Addressing the issues, Oyedele recognized that there were lapses within the legislative process.
According to a statement issued by the fiscal reforms committee, the minister admitted “that errors occurred due to manual processes and multiple stages of review” involved in drafting and finalizing the laws.
He did, however, assure stakeholders that corrective measures are already in place through a planned financial bill.
“What we need is a more transparent and reliable legislative process where every version of a law is publicly available,” Oyedele said.
The minister also sought to ease concerns about the measures’ implementation, stating that enforcement would not be arbitrary.
He explained that the new tax structure is based on “clear policy intent, transparency, and fairness.”
Oyedele underlined the importance of understanding the underlying goals of tax policy, urging stakeholders to go beyond the text of the laws to their larger purpose.
Highlighting previous issues, he cited discrepancies in Nigeria’s tax structure, particularly the disparity between personal and corporate taxation, which he claimed impeded company formalization.
He noted that the revisions are intended to enhance consistency, minimize discretion in tax administration, and encourage firms to formalize their activities.
Reflecting on investor confidence, Oyedele cautioned against policy uncertainty, stating, “If policies can change overnight, it sends the wrong signal to investors. “Consistency is crucial.”
