Tinubu celebrates Taiwo Oyedele at 50, commends role in tax reforms

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Mr Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, on his 50th birthday.

The President praised Oyedele’s commitment to national service, describing him as an embodiment of discipline, merit, and reformist integrity in both public and private sectors.

In a statement on Wednesday, signed by Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency recalled Mr Oyedele’s inspiring journey from his early life in Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, to his academic success at global institutions including the London School of Economics, Yale University, and Harvard Kennedy School.

President Tinubu noted that Oyedele’s decades of leadership at PwC and his track record in international tax administration prepared him to lead Nigeria’s fiscal transformation.

“When I inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms on August 8, 2023, I gave it a clear mandate to overhaul the tax structure, raise our Tax-to-GDP ratio to 18% within three years, and improve the investment climate,” Tinubu said.

He confirmed that while four harmonised tax bills are still awaiting presidential assent, the Tax-to-GDP ratio has already grown from 10% to over 13.5%, a significant gain linked to the committee’s groundwork.

President Tinubu further described Mr Oyedele, the former Africa Tax Leader at PwC, as a strategic architect of Nigeria’s simpler and more equitable tax system. He commended his efforts to reduce the burden on low-income earners and align fiscal policies with inclusive growth objectives.

The President also welcomed Oyedele’s continued efforts in academic mentoring and youth development, especially through the Impact Africa Foundation, saying Nigeria will benefit more from his next phase of service.

He prayed for renewed strength, wisdom, and fulfilment for the reform advocate as he marks his golden jubilee.