Oyedele Stresses Collaboration as Key to Successful Tax Reforms

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has reiterated the importance of collaboration and stakeholder engagement in ensuring the success of Nigeria’s newly implemented tax reforms.

Oyedele made this known in Lagos while receiving the leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), led by its President, Yinka Folami, during a courtesy visit to his office.

Expressing optimism about the reforms, which took effect in January, Oyedele said sustained dialogue, education and strategic engagement with industry stakeholders would be critical to achieving lasting impact.

He noted that interactions with structured and influential trade groups such as NANTA would help close information gaps and improve understanding within the country’s tax system.

“Our committee has engaged with several multi-layered organisations, including airlines. Frankly, we were not fully aware of the depth and strategic role your association plays as a solution driver in the tax reform process,” Oyedele said.

“From today’s discussions, which have opened new frontiers of understanding and bridged information gaps, I am optimistic that the tax reforms will succeed.”

He urged NANTA’s leadership to sensitise its over 3,500 members on the importance of maintaining accurate records of account turnover and banking transactions to avoid tax liabilities arising from discrepancies.

Oyedele added that the committee would sustain engagement with the association to address grey areas within the downstream aviation tax ecosystem.

In his remarks, NANTA President Yinka Folami raised concerns about multiple taxation in the travel trade sector. He called for clearer interpretation of the various taxes and levies embedded in airline ticket pricing, noting that such charges are often attributed to travel agents and, in some cases, result in double taxation.

Folami affirmed the association’s support for government tax policies and broader national development initiatives but stressed the need for clarity regarding members’ tax obligations.

He also advocated continued collaboration between the Presidential Committee and relevant agencies, particularly the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), formerly the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to resolve outstanding ambiguities.

“We support government tax policies and have consistently promoted Nigeria-focused initiatives to drive reforms in the downstream aviation sector,” Folami said. “Our visit underscores our commitment to building a knowledge-based and sustainable relationship with the government, especially on tax reforms and their implementation.”