\n\nThe Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting that the Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, admitted to errors in Nigeria’s newly introduced tax laws. The clarification was issued by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, which described such reports as misleading and a misrepresentation of the minister’s actual remarks. The committee stressed that the circulating claims distorted public understanding of the reforms and urged Nigerians to rely on verified information. 
According to the committee, the controversy stemmed from comments Oyedele made during a recent conference in Lagos, where he highlighted the early successes of the tax reforms rather than admitting faults. Officials pointed out that the laws, which came into effect in January 2026, have already driven significant changes, including a sharp rise in tax registrations—from about 10 million to over 100 million nationwide—as well as increased formalisation of previously informal businesses. 
The government also emphasized that the tax reforms were deliberately designed to ease the burden on low-income earners and small businesses, with exemptions covering essential areas such as food, healthcare, education, transport, and rent. In addition, new mechanisms like a Tax Ombud were introduced to protect taxpayers’ rights. Authorities insisted that these outcomes reflect the strength and intent of the policy, not flaws in its structure. 
While acknowledging that no legislation is entirely perfect, the committee clarified that Oyedele only noted the need for continuous stakeholder engagement and future amendments where necessary. Officials maintained that this is a normal part of policy development and does not amount to admitting errors in the law itself. They also reiterated that any earlier concerns about discrepancies in the tax laws had been addressed, with the officially gazetted versions certified by the National Assembly and already in effect. 
