The Senate of Nigeria has confirmed the appointment of Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the confirmation after lawmakers approved the nomination through a voice vote at the Committee of the Whole.
Oyedele is expected to replace Doris Uzoka-Anite, who was recently reassigned to serve as Minister of State for Budget and National Planning.
The confirmation followed Oyedele’s screening by lawmakers on Wednesday, during which senators spent over two hours questioning the nominee before eventually clearing him for the ministerial role.
Responding to questions during the session, Oyedele described his nomination as a call to serve the country at a critical time for its economy.
“With over two decades of experience working with national governments, multilateral institutions and global corporations, my journey across the private sector, academia and public policy has focused on fiscal governance and economic transformation,” he told lawmakers.
“However, this moment is not about personal accomplishments; it is a call to serve at a critical time when Nigeria faces significant fiscal challenges and remarkable opportunities.”
President Tinubu had earlier forwarded Oyedele’s name to the Red Chamber for confirmation following his nomination.
Before the appointment, Oyedele served as chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, where he led efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s tax framework.
Appointed to head the committee in July 2023, Oyedele and his team spent more than two years working on reforms that culminated in the implementation of a new tax regime that came into effect on January 1.
The reforms are aimed at transforming tax administration in Nigeria, boosting government revenue, improving the business environment and attracting both domestic and foreign investments.
