The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has expressed confidence in the ability of the newly appointed Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to improve Nigeria’s fiscal management and address delays affecting the implementation of 2025 capital projects.
Agbese, a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, spoke with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday evening, describing Oyedele’s appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a deliberate effort to strengthen economic governance and restore efficiency to the budget implementation process.
“Let me state clearly that the current delays in capital project implementation should not be misinterpreted as a sign of systemic failure. What we are seeing is that the government of President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive steps to strengthen the economic management team. With the appointment of Mr Taiwo Oyedele, Nigerians can be assured that the economy is in capable hands,” he said.
The Labour Party lawmaker described Oyedele as an experienced fiscal policy expert with strong knowledge of taxation, public finance and economic reforms. “What distinguishes the new minister is not just his technical competence, but his deep understanding of Nigeria’s fiscal architecture. He has spent years working on tax policy, revenue optimisation and economic reforms, and that experience is exactly what is required at this critical time,” Agbese said.
He noted that Oyedele previously chaired the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, where he played a key role in designing frameworks aimed at improving government revenue and aligning fiscal policies with development priorities. “Mr Oyedele has demonstrated, through his previous roles, that he possesses the clarity of thought and intellectual sagacity required to interrogate complex economic challenges and provide practical, results-driven solutions. This is not a trial-and-error appointment; it is a strategic decision grounded in competence and experience,” he added.
According to Agbese, the minister’s experience across both the public and private sectors places him in a strong position to tackle structural challenges affecting budget implementation and capital releases. He stressed that Nigerians expect measurable improvements in project execution and service delivery rather than policy rhetoric. “It is important to emphasise that what Nigerians should expect at this point is not rhetoric, but results. The minister understands the urgency of improving capital releases and ensuring that funds appropriated by the National Assembly are translated into real development outcomes,” he said.
Agbese also assured that the National Assembly would continue to provide legislative support and oversight for reforms being pursued within the finance ministry. “As a parliament, we will work closely with the executive to ensure that the necessary frameworks are in place for effective budget implementation. We are confident that under Mr Oyedele’s leadership, the national budget will be brought back on track and aligned with the expectations of ordinary Nigerians,” he stated.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that stronger policy coordination and institutional support would improve the pace of capital project execution in the months ahead and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s economic management framework.
