Chief Adebayo Olawale Edun (born 1956) is a Nigerian economist and investment banker currently serving as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. A core member of President Tinubu’s inner circle since their days in Lagos State government, Edun is the chief architect of Nigeria’s current fiscal overhaul. As of January 9, 2026, he is steering the nation through a critical “consolidation year.”
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Adebayo Olawale Edun (CVO, OFR) |
| Current Role | Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy |
| International Role | Chairman, African Governors’ Forum (World Bank) |
| Education | University of London (BSc); University of Sussex (MSc) |
| Key Policy | The Tax Reform Act 2026 (effective Jan 1, 2026) |
| Status in 2026 | Managing the ₦58 trillion “Budget of Resilience.” |
2026: The Year of Fiscal Discipline
Entering 2026, Edun has shifted focus from “crisis management” to “structural consolidation.”
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The Tax Reform Milestone: On January 1, 2026, Edun’s centerpiece legislation, the Nigeria Tax Act, officially came into effect. The law aims to double Nigeria’s revenue-to-GDP ratio (currently at ~10%) by broadening the tax base and simplifying compliance. Edun has spent the first week of 2026 reassuring the public that the reform “shields the vulnerable while ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share.”
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Budget 2026 Scrutiny: Edun is currently defending the ₦58.47 trillion 2026 Federal Budget. In a statement on January 5, 2026, he highlighted that GDP growth reached 3.98% in late 2025 and projected that inflation would continue to decelerate. However, he also admitted to the Senate that nearly 70% of 2025’s capital projects had to be rolled over into 2026 due to revenue shortfalls.
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Contractor Debt Cleanup: A major priority for Edun this month is the ₦1.7 trillion allocation in the 2026 budget to settle unpaid federal contractors. He has faced pressure from indigenous contractor associations, pledging that “verified arrears” will finally be cleared to stimulate the construction sector.
Global Diplomacy and Market Confidence
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Security as an Economic Signal: On December 28, 2025, following a joint security operation with the US in Sokoto, Edun issued a rare statement to international investors: “Nigeria is not at war with itself… security actions that protect productive regions are pro-growth.” He continues to link security gains directly to “de-risking” the Nigerian economy for foreign direct investment.
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Credit Rating Upgrades: Edun has touted recent rating improvements from Moody’s and Fitch as a “vote of confidence” in his fiscal strategy. As the first Nigerian in 60 years to chair the World Bank’s African Governors’ Forum, he is using his position to advocate for more favorable debt-servicing terms for African nations.
Professional Profile
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The “Jagaban’s” Banker: Edun’s relationship with President Tinubu dates back to 1999, when he served as the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance. He is credited with pioneering the “Lagos Model” of internal revenue generation that Tinubu is now attempting to scale nationally.
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Technocratic Style: Known for being soft-spoken and deliberate, Edun is often seen as the “calm hand” in the administration, balancing the aggressive political goals of the presidency with the rigid requirements of international finance.