Oyedele sees need for professionals to step into public office as ACCA honours him

Taiwo Oyedele, Nigeria’s minister of state for finance, says there is a need for professionals to step forward and take up difficult roles, even at the risk of personal reputation, as that is part of the ways to make progress in Nigeria, not by complaining.

The minister, who was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, gave this charge at a reception hosted for him by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in Lagos, where friends and professional colleagues came in their numbers to honour him.

He is a staunch member of ACCA, the global professional body for accountants, offering internationally recognized qualifications and career development in accountancy, finance, and management. ACCA is the world’s largest professional accountancy body, with over 247,000 members.

He noted that public office offers opportunity for service over self, recalling how he used to be critical of some public sector policies and actions. However, notwithstanding his transition from the private sector to the “arena” of public service, he warns of the dangers of allowing one’s person to become inextricably linked with a temporary title, faulting the habit of critiquing from the sidelines.

“One of the easiest things to do in life is to complain. You don’t even need to think properly; just complain. But there is not a single solution in the world that has been provided by complaining,” Oyedele noted, betraying his transition from complaint to solution.

Reflecting on the tax reform, the minister noted that reforms are not easy. “That level of leadership is rare, especially in the political space, where some of the things we did were looking very costly from a political point of view.

I’m in the arena, and in the arena, anything can happen. You will make mistakes; you will say the wrong things… But are you there for yourself, or are you there to serve?” he queried.

Oyedele urged other professionals to bring their skills to the public sector, despite the potential dent to their reputation, arguing that the true value of a professional’s name lies in its usefulness to others in need.

In a brief interview with journalists, the minister stated that public service is a privilege and also a duty, stressing that, as professionals, they have to be always willing and ready to serve, and for people who have had the opportunity to serve our country, it’s both a privilege and a duty to try and ensure that they give their best.

He noted that ACCA is one of those professional organizations that values integrity and accountability. “People don’t have to agree with you, but it is also your duty to explain your actions, because it’s public service,” he said.

According to him, “public service is never easy because you’re dealing with different stakeholders, and you’re dealing with things that are out of your control. Nobody knew that Israel and the US were going to bomb Iran, and we’re still dealing with that.”

Oyedele believes that “challenges are part of life, and you’re not going to get things perfectly every time, as long as you’re committed to making a difference. One thing we can assure ourselves as members of ACCA is that we’ve been trained with the right ethical backgrounds; we are very clear on what’s important, and in the end, we want to make a difference.”

Earlier, ACCA members and some of his students had given testimonies of his person and character as a stickler to integrity and professionalism, describing him as a fit-for-purpose professional for the job he has been given.

Tom Isibor, ACCA Country Head, spoke highly of the minister’s humility, despite his accomplishments. He described him as a thoroughbred professional.

He reminded the minister that his job is a national service and that the hope of over two hundred million Nigerians hangs on him, commending him for his contribution to the growth of their profession, and also assuring him of the association’s support.