President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Nigerian Senate to confirm Taiwo Oyedele as a minister in his cabinet, following the reshuffling of portfolios announced earlier this month.
In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during plenary on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the President invoked Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to forward Oyedele’s nomination.
“In compliance with the provisions of section 147(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I am pleased to forward to the Senate for confirmation the nomination of Mr Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the letter stated in part.
Tinubu expressed hope for a swift review of the request, adding:
“While I hope that this request will receive expeditious consideration of the Senate, please accept Distinguished Senate President the assurances of my highest regards.”
Senate President Akpabio referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for consideration, citing the urgency of the matter.
“Well, in line with our practice and as a result of the urgency, this is referred to the Committee of the Whole for future consideration,” Akpabio noted.
The nomination comes after President Tinubu, on March 3, 2026, redesignated Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance to replace Doris Uzoka-Anite. Uzoka-Anite was reassigned to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as Minister of State.
Profile of Taiwo Oyedele
Taiwo Oyedele, 50, is a seasoned economist, chartered accountant, and public policy expert. Until his nomination, he served as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms — the body that spearheaded a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system, including the introduction of key reforms to improve revenue generation, reduce multiple taxation, and enhance tax administration efficiency.
His appointment to the finance portfolio is widely seen as strategic, given his deep involvement in shaping the administration’s fiscal and tax policies. Oyedele’s confirmation, if approved by the Senate, would allow him to oversee the implementation of many of the reforms he helped design while in an advisory capacity.
The Senate is expected to take up the nomination expeditiously in line with the President’s request. No date has yet been fixed for the screening, but the referral to the Committee of the Whole suggests the process could move quickly.
The development is part of ongoing cabinet adjustments aimed at strengthening key economic portfolios amid efforts to stabilise public finances, boost revenue, and sustain economic recovery initiatives.
