Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has called on the Joint Tax Board (JTB) to establish an effective and equitable tax system in Nigeria, aligning with the recent National Tax Reforms passed by the National Assembly.
Speaking at the 2025 JTB Strategic Retreat in Ikogosi-Ekiti, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to implementing the reforms, which he says are crucial for economic growth and citizen welfare.
Oyebanji commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating the “truly transformative” reforms, which he believes will help fulfil the social contract between the government and its citizens.
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He highlighted the key objectives of the new tax laws, which include deepening the tax base, enhancing revenue, simplifying compliance, fostering transparency, and promoting the digitalisation of tax administration.
According to the governor, the implementation of these bills, set to begin in January 2026, will reshape the country’s revenue mobilisation and drive sustainable development.
The governor also lauded the state’s Internal Revenue Service, led by its chairman, Olaniran Olatona, for its professionalism and strategic innovation.
Oyebanji revealed that his administration has successfully increased the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) from N650 million to over N2 billion in just 26 months.
This significant increase, he said, provides critical funding for delivering dividends of democracy to the people, which in turn has led to a high level of voluntary tax compliance.
The governor also announced that a new “Ekiti Revenue House” will be commissioned within four weeks, showcasing tangible support for the state’s revenue service.
In his remarks, JTB Chairman Zacch Adedeji, who was represented by Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, praised Oyebanji’s leadership for fostering a thriving Internal Revenue Service in Ekiti State.
Adedeji noted that the retreat’s theme, “Re-imagining the Nigeria tax eco-system: harnessing the four tax reform laws as game changers in tax administration,” was apt and critical for enforcing the national tax reforms.
He credited the governor’s performance and the visible investment of public funds in citizen welfare for the high rate of voluntary tax payment among residents.
Olaniran Olatona, Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service, expressed his gratitude to Oyebanji for his unwavering support.
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He promised that the revenue generated would be effectively used for the state’s development, further encouraging residents to comply with tax payments.
Olatona noted that the country’s tax system is on the verge of a dynamic and beneficial change, which he described as the first of its kind.
