Taiwo Oyedele
Susan Abayomi
President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the Minister of State for Finance, replacing Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, who will now serve as Minister of State at the Ministry of Budget and National Planning. This marks Uzoka-Anite’s third portfolio in the administration. Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant, and public policy expert with over two decades of experience. He previously served as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, leading the overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system.
Oyedele’s nomination is subject to Senate confirmation, and if approved, he will work alongside the substantive Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. As Minister of State for Finance, Oyedele is expected to ensure the smooth rollout of the new tax framework, drive revenue collection efficiency, and coordinate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
A native of Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, Oyedele holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy and Finance from Yaba College of Technology and a BSc in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University. He has also completed executive education programs at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Oyedele spent 22 years at PwC, rising to become Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader. He is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School .
The nomination of Oyedele has been welcomed by the Nigerian business community, with many optimistic about his potential to stabilize the nation’s fiscal trajectory. His committee spearheaded the tax reform bills signed into law by President Tinubu in June 2025, aiming to increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and boost domestic and foreign investments.
The tax reforms, which took effect on January 1, 2026, have been met with controversy, with some opposition figures and pressure groups criticizing the changes. However, Oyedele has maintained that the reforms will provide relief to Nigerian people, with 98% of workers paying little or no Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) taxes, and 97% of small businesses exempt from Corporate Income Tax, VAT, and Withholding Tax.
President Tinubu has praised Oyedele’s expertise and diligence, stating that his nomination will strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal architecture. The Senate is expected to review Oyedele’s nomination soon .
