Oyedele, chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, suggested on Channels Television’s Politics Today that Nigeria should exempt vulnerable and poor people from taxes. He criticized the current system for taxing everyone indiscriminately, including small vendors and market traders who struggle to make a daily living.
Oyedele highlighted that excessive levies are imposed on small businesses and transporters, which contribute to high inflation and financial burdens. He mentioned that some market traders pay six to seven different levies daily, and truckers transporting goods face over N450,000 in fees per trip.
He argued that Nigeria can increase revenue without raising taxes by consolidating and harmonizing the tax system and using technology to close the tax gap. Oyedele emphasized the need for fewer, broad-based taxes that are easy to collect and do not burden the poorest in society. He called for legitimate tax exemptions for nano, micro businesses, and low-income earners.
