The Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to a fair and sustainable tax administration system that supports the growth of individuals, businesses and the state’s economy.

The Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Olaniran Olatona, gave the assurance in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, saying the state had built a sustainable tax administration system driven by voluntary compliance.

Olatona commended Ekiti residents and taxpayers for voluntarily fulfilling their tax obligations, noting that the trend had contributed to steady growth in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.

He said revenue generated through taxes had continued to increase despite the suspension of enforcement measures, such as roadblocks and the sealing of business premises, since July 2025.

According to him, the state’s sustainable tax administration system has strengthened its IGR performance, while ongoing national and state economic reforms are expected to deliver long-term developmental benefits.

He disclosed that the state’s IGR reached N2.75 billion in June 2026, representing a 33.2 per cent increase over the N2.06 billion generated in June 2025.

“Collections have held a stable N2.74 billion plateau since April 2026,” he said.

Olatona attributed the improvement to automation and digitalisation of tax collection, which has expanded payment channels, widened the tax net and reduced revenue leakages, as well as a broader and more formalised Pay-As-You-Earn base and stronger withholding tax compliance.

He said, “EKIRS remains committed to building a fair and sustainable revenue system that supports economic growth while ensuring every taxpayer contributes an equitable share to the development of Ekiti State.”

The EKIRS chairman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to fair, transparent and taxpayer-friendly administration.

“Our responsibility is not to punish taxpayers but to ensure fairness. We are more interested in helping businesses grow because thriving businesses ultimately translate into sustainable revenue for government,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the agency would surpass its internal monthly revenue target of over N3 billion before the end of the year without imposing additional burdens on taxpayers, citing improved compliance and increased taxpayer participation.

According to him, “EKIRS’ objective is to widen the tax base by bringing more eligible taxpayers into the system, rather than raising tax rates or introducing new taxes. The Service will continue deploying technology and data intelligence to identify previously untaxed incomes, while complying with relevant data protection regulations.”

Olatona said the agency was collaborating with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as local government councils, to introduce a central billing system aimed at eliminating multiple tax collections and simplifying payment processes.

Commenting on recent protests over a perceived tax increase in the state, he expressed surprise that the affected taxpayers did not explore the legal channels available to challenge their assessments.

He clarified that the recently issued Notices of Assessment were intended only to notify taxpayers of their liabilities for the 2024 and 2025 tax years and should not be interpreted as enforcement actions.

Olatona explained that the notices were issued in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, which gives taxpayers the right to challenge tax assessments by submitting written objections to the relevant tax authority within 30 days of receiving such notices.

He added that the law also requires tax authorities to respond to such objections within 90 days.

The EKIRS chairman assured taxpayers that the agency remained committed to reviewing genuine complaints, including cases where taxpayers experienced difficulties complying with procedural requirements.

He added that the agency had intensified taxpayer education through engagements with market associations, landlords’ associations, religious organisations and other stakeholder groups to promote tax awareness and voluntary compliance.

He also encouraged market associations to engage tax consultants to help members better understand tax laws, resolve disputes and maintain proper financial records.