President Tinubu Swears In Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally inaugurated Taiwo Oyedele as the Minister of State for Finance on Monday, March 16, 2026.

The ceremony, conducted at approximately 2:30 pm at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, follows Oyedele’s confirmation by the Nigerian Senate on March 12.

The 50-year-old fiscal policy expert replaces Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, who has been redeployed to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as Minister of State, marking her third portfolio transition within the current administration.

Oyedele, the former Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, enters the Federal Executive Council (FEC) with a mandate to bridge the gap between policy formulation and practical execution.

His previous work spearheaded a comprehensive overhaul of the national tax system, resulting in the consolidation of over 60 taxes into fewer than 10 major statutes through the Tax Reform Acts of 2025.

During his Senate screening, Oyedele characterized his appointment as “a call to serve at a critical time when Nigeria faces significant fiscal challenges and remarkable opportunities”.

Following the swearing-in, the new minister identified revenue mobilization, spending efficiency, debt management, and fiscal sustainability as the immediate priorities of his office. He emphasized that the efficacy of governance is dependent on the tangible implementation of theoretical frameworks.

Addressing State House correspondents, Oyedele stated: "Reforms are only as good as the paper on which they are written. What is really important is the diligent execution, and this is part of it: to move from policy formulation to execution".

The appointment is expected to provide technical depth to the Ministry of Finance, currently headed by Wale Edun.