Tinubu Swears in Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in tax policy expert Taiwo Oyedele as the Minister of State for Finance, praising his professionalism, dedication, and contributions to Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal reforms.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the President described the appointment as a strong vote of confidence in Oyedele’s competence and track record.

Speaking shortly after the ceremony, President Tinubu commended the new minister for his role as chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, noting that his expertise was instrumental in shaping policies aimed at simplifying Nigeria’s tax system and expanding the country’s revenue base.

The President said Oyedele’s work has helped design reforms intended to create a more business-friendly environment and improve fiscal governance.

“We are very proud of your knowledge, simplicity, ambition, and excellence,” Tinubu said while congratulating the new minister and acknowledging the support of his family.

He added that Oyedele’s commitment and professionalism made it easy to entrust him with the new responsibility at a time when Nigeria is pursuing economic stability and long-term growth.

According to the President, managing fiscal policy is a demanding task, especially in a period when the government is focused on sustaining economic stability while accelerating growth.

“It is a very challenging job because we look at the fiscal policy and responsibility that come with it at the time that economic stability is being experienced, but without exponential growth. It is always very difficult, but you are fit to be there,” the President said.

Tinubu also praised Oyedele’s dedication and determination to serve the country, particularly his role in reforming what he described as an outdated tax policy system that had hindered progressive economic development.

Oyedele, who hails from Ikaram in Akoko, Ondo State, is an economist, accountant, and public policy expert with extensive experience in fiscal policy and taxation.

He obtained a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Finance from Yaba College of Technology before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University.

The new minister has also attended executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Before his appointment, Oyedele spent 22 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he joined in 2001 and rose to become the firm’s Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

In addition to his professional career, he serves as a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and is also a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.

The appointment is expected to strengthen the federal government’s fiscal reform agenda as Nigeria continues to pursue policies aimed at improving revenue generation, economic stability, and investment growth.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)