By Emeka Amaefula
OYEDELE REPLACES ANITE- UZOKA IN FINANCE MINISTRY
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr. Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance, signaling a fresh strategic shift within the nation’s economic management team as the administration intensifies fiscal reforms and revenue restructuring efforts.
The nomination, formally transmitted to the Senate for confirmation, was conveyed in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio Godswill Akpabio, in line with constitutional provisions. The development was made public in a press statement dated March 3, 2026, and signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has today nominated Mr. Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance and has accordingly transmitted his name to the Senate for confirmation.” The statement further explained that the nomination forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal governance, deepen tax reforms, and reposition Nigeria’s public finance architecture for sustainable growth.
Oyedele replaces Anite-Uzoka in Finance Ministry, as Dr. Doris Anite-Uzoka is redeployed to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as Minister of State, marking her third portfolio within the current administration — a move widely interpreted as part of a broader cabinet realignment aimed at enhancing efficiency and synergy across key economic ministries.
The presidency noted that Oyedele brings a wealth of experience spanning public policy, taxation, fiscal governance, and economic advisory services. Until his nomination, the 50-year-old economist served as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, a committee credited with undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system and recommending far-reaching reforms designed to expand the tax base, improve compliance, and streamline revenue administration.
The March 3 statement emphasized that “Mr. Oyedele’s nomination reflects the President’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s fiscal institutions and sustaining the momentum of tax reforms already underway.” It added that his professional background and reform-driven track record position him to play a critical role in advancing the administration’s economic stabilization and revenue mobilization agenda.
A native of Ikaram in Akoko, Ondo State, Oyedele’s academic credentials reflect a blend of technical depth and global exposure. He earned a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Finance from Yaba College of Technology Yaba College of Technology before proceeding to Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Accounting. He further enhanced his expertise through executive education programmes at the London School of Economics London School of Economics, Yale University Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Kennedy School.
Professionally, Oyedele devoted 22 years of his career to PwC, where he joined in 2001 and rose through the ranks to become Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader. His tenure at the global professional services firm saw him advise governments and multinational corporations on fiscal policy, tax strategy, and regulatory reforms across the continent.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Oyedele contributes to academia as a professor at Babcock University Babcock University in Ogun State and serves as a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School Lagos Business School, where he lectures on fiscal policy, taxation, and economic governance.
With the nomination now before the Senate, attention shifts to the confirmation process, which will determine the final composition of the Finance Ministry’s leadership as the administration continues its push for structural economic reforms. Observers say Oyedele’s confirmation could further consolidate ongoing tax modernization efforts and reinforce the government’s broader fiscal consolidation agenda.
The press statement, signed by Bayo Onanuga, reiterated that the administration remains committed to “building a resilient and transparent fiscal framework that supports inclusive economic growth and national development,” underscoring the significance of the latest nomination within Nigeria’s evolving economic reform landscape.
——–Emeka Amaefula —–+234(0)8111813069—
