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Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has cautioned governments against introducing new taxes or increasing existing tax burdens on vulnerable citizens and productive sectors, warning that such measures could deepen economic hardship.
Oyedele spoke on the sidelines of the 2026 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand, where he presented a communiqué on behalf of the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four (G24), which he chairs.
“This is the wrong time to impose new taxes or increase the burden of tax, particularly on the vulnerable population and productive sectors of the economy,” he said.
Responding to questions on how developing countries could reduce debt-servicing costs without cutting essential public spending, Oyedele urged governments to identify waste, find savings and improve revenue collection before placing additional financial pressure on citizens and businesses.
He said borrowing remained necessary to finance economic growth but stressed that governments must ensure that debt supports job creation and inclusive development.
“Borrowing and debt financing is a necessary condition for growth, and every country emerging, developing must be able to apply debt financing in a way that is overall of positive impact, particularly to stimulate job-rich and inclusive growth,” he said.
The minister also called for available public funds to be prioritised for essential services, including healthcare and education, while private capital could help finance other areas of investment.
On the choice between taxation and borrowing, Oyedele said both options carried consequences and should be considered in the context of their impact on household welfare.
“If you collect taxes, you raise the money now, and that itself has a lot of trade-offs. What taxes are you collecting? You collect taxes from the most vulnerable, and this will deprive them of money to provide food, health, education,” he said.
He argued that excessive taxation could leave low-income households with less money for basic needs, while borrowing also carried future obligations.
“Debt is future taxes, so it’s not one or the other. It’s to strike a balance, bearing in mind ultimately that the essence of tax and of debts is to cater for the people,” Oyedele said.
