For Olaoluwa Olaniyi, the debate around Nigeria’s newly introduced tax law cannot be reduced to resistance or unwillingness to pay. As a technology entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience across Nigeria and the United States, his perspective is shaped by years of building and managing complex compliance driven systems in both private and public sectors.
Olaniyi, Founder and CEO of ComplyDesk, is building a technology enabled platform that simplifies tax filing and regulatory compliance for businesses in Nigeria and the diaspora. His exposure to advanced tax and regulatory frameworks in the U.S., where he worked on data driven product initiatives at global organizations such as AstraZeneca and ConcertAI, has given him a clear lens through which to assess Nigeria’s current reforms.
He considers the new tax law a step in the right direction. Sustainable national development, he argues, depends on steady government revenue. Roads, healthcare, education, and economic stability cannot exist without it. However, the widespread panic is not driven by tax aversion but by poor understanding.
From his engagements with FMCG distributor networks and small business owners, confusion dominates the conversation. Many do not know what applies to them, how much they owe, or where to pay. When tax notices arrive without guidance, fear replaces cooperation. For Olaniyi, compliance begins with clarity, not coercion.
