….reaffirms commitment to National Tax Reform
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has called on members of the Joint Tax Board (JTB), the apex body for all tax authorities in Nigeria, to ensure effective and equitable tax system in the country, in a bid to ensure the fulfilment of the Tax Reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently passed by the National Assembly.
Oyebanji stated this at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Joint Tax Board Strategic Retreat held at Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti on Friday.
He reaffirmed the commitment of his administration towards the implementation of the National Tax Reforms, noting that the importance of a robust tax system in driving economic growth and citizens’ welfare cannot be over emphasized.
The governor commended President Tinubu for proposing a far-reaching reform aimed at lifting the living standards of citizens which, according to him, is truly transformative and a collective fulfilment of the social contract that reinforces democratic governance for the existence of the country.
He explained that the key objectives of the bill are aimed at deepening the tax base, enhance revenue mobilization, simplify compliance procedures, foster transparency and accountability across revenue agencies, as well as encourage digitalization in tax administration. He added that the implementation of the bill next year will reshape process of revenue mobilization and delivery of sustainable development.
Commending the State’s Internal Revenue Service led by its Chairman, Mr Olaniran Olatona for their professionalism and strategic innovation, the Governor revealed that his administration had been able to gear up internally generated revenue of the state from N650Million to over N2Billion within 26 months serving as base for providing critical funding to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Joint Tax Board, Mr Zacch Adedeji, who commended Governor Oyebanji providing effective leadership for internal revenue service to thrive in the state noted that the theme of the retreat, “Re-imagining the Nigeria tax eco-system: harnessing the four tax reform laws as game changers in tax administration” was apt and critically chosen to enforce President Tinubu’s tax reform nationally.
Adedeji, who was represented by the Coordinating Director of Federal Internal Revenue Service Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar. commended Ekiti state citizens for their voluntary compliance to tax payment because of the performance of the Governor whom he said has done the right thing by investing the people’s money on their welfare which helped in moving the internally generated revenue of the state high.
The Chairman, Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Olaniran Olatona expressed appreciation to Governor Oyebanji who had been a pillar of support to the process of internally generated revenue in the state which he promised to effectively used for the development of the state and which have brought about voluntary compliance to tax payment by residents of the state.
