By Sabiu Abdullahi
President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Taiwo Oyedele as minister of state for finance.
The ceremony took place on Monday at about 2:30pm inside the president’s office at the State House in Abuja. The event was brief but marked Oyedele’s formal entry into the federal executive council.
Speaking during the occasion, Tinubu congratulated the new minister and expressed appreciation for his willingness to serve. He commended Oyedele’s contribution to Nigeria’s tax reform efforts and highlighted his commitment to national development.
“You are just a very dedicated and highly determined individual. It didn’t take much for me to decide where you fit and where you need to be to further help the country,” the president said.
Tinubu also pointed out that the role comes with serious responsibility. He noted that managing fiscal policy at a time when the country is working towards economic stability requires firm leadership.
Oyedele’s appointment followed his confirmation by the senate five days earlier. During his screening, he assured lawmakers of his readiness to push reforms that would boost revenue, promote realistic budgeting, and improve fiscal governance.
The president had sent his nomination to the senate in a letter dated March 3, 2026, in line with section 147(2) of the 1999 constitution.
Oyedele, who hails from Ikaram-Akoko in Ondo state, has more than 20 years of experience in public finance and taxation. Before his new role, he led the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, which was set up in August 2023.
Under his leadership, the committee produced four key tax reform bills designed to simplify Nigeria’s tax system. The reforms included incentives such as zero income tax for individuals earning N800,000 or less annually, as well as tax relief for small businesses with turnover below N50 million.
The national assembly passed the four bills in 2025, and the president signed them into law on June 26 of the same year. The new tax framework came into effect on January 1, 2026.
Before joining government, Oyedele spent 22 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). He rose to the position of fiscal policy partner and Africa tax leader during his time at the firm.
He holds a higher national diploma in accountancy and finance from Yaba College of Technology. He also earned a degree in applied accounting from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom. In addition, he has attended executive programmes at several institutions, including the London School of Economics, Yale University, and Harvard Kennedy School.
Oyedele currently teaches at Babcock University and also serves as a visiting scholar at Lagos Business School.
He takes over from Doris Uzoka-Anite, who has been reassigned to the ministry of budget and national planning as minister of state.
During his senate screening, Oyedele described his appointment as “a call to serve at a time of great economic challenges and opportunities,” as he pledged to support the country’s fiscal management efforts.
