Taiwo Oyedele, the chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, says many who have made money without paying taxes for many years are behind pushback against President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform laws.

Mr Oyedele made this statement at the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2026 January Business Breakfast on Tuesday.

“Many people fighting the reforms are not telling you why they are fighting them. It’s because they’ve made money for so long and never pay taxes,” Mr Oyedele explained. “We are desiring a system that says nobody will be above the law anymore. You will fight it.”

He added, “It’s hard to pay tax anywhere in the world. But we will not compromise the future of the country. Because what is at stake is much bigger than any one of us.”

Mr Oyedele noted further that though South Africa is smaller than Nigeria in population, it earns much more than Nigeria in personal income tax.

“In 2024, South Africa generated over 60 trillion Naira equivalents from personal income tax alone. 

“That amount of money is more than the amounts we generated on all taxes, corporate taxes, and investment income tax, local government, and states combined. One tax from 60 million people to 240 million people. 

“Granted, per capita (income) in South Africa is much higher than in Nigeria. But I’m convinced that if we take the top 60 million people in Nigerians based on income, it will be comparable with the per capita income of South Africa,” Mr Oyedele stated.