The Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS) said that machinery has been put in place for the harmonisation payable taxes in the state.
The agency also revealed that the state has recorded its highest-ever monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of ₦2.75 billion in June 2026 while aiming to surpass N3 billion monthly IGR before the end of the year.
The Executive Chairman of the EKIRS, Mr Olaniran Olatona, who stated these while addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital said the move was aimed at reducing multiple tax collection and simplifying tax payment processes in the state.
Olatona who explained that personal income tax falls within the purview of state governments, while other taxes are administered by the appropriate levels of government in accordance with extant laws said, “The Nigerian constitution recognises three-tiers of government, the federal, state and local governments and each of them have what they collect as tax under the the schedule of law . What we can do is harmonising and the process has started but it is not as fast as expected.
“In some countries like Rwanda, UK, USA and others one tax is collected and it is distributed among the tiers of government. We can take a queue from Enugu State, where the LGAs have all agreed that the State Internal Revenue Service should collect all the local government rates on their behalf. We have sent our staff and LGAs representatives finance team to Enugu to understudy what they do there.”
The EKIRS boss said the Service was collaborating with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Local Government Councils, to introduce a central billing system for effective administration and to address multiple collection of taxes.
“Part of what we are doing is asking MDAs to do what we call central billing system and we are also expecting other business premises to yield to our pleas to achieve the goal.”
On the continuous unprecedented increased in the monthly IGR being recorded despite the suspension of tax enforcement, he attributed the development to improved voluntary compliance, digital tax administration and a broader tax base.
Olatona, who explained that state had successfully demonstrated that sustainable revenue generation could be achieved through taxpayers’ trust rather than coercion, said the Service deliberately suspended active tax enforcement from July 8, 2025, to assess whether the reforms introduced under the new tax regime would encourage voluntary compliance.
The performance, according to him, has allayed the initial fears that the implementation of the new Federal Tax Administration laws and the suspension of enforcement activities would negatively impact the state’s revenue profile.
He maintained that EKIRS’s objective was to widen the tax base by bringing more eligible taxpayers into the system, rather than raising tax rates or introducing new taxes.
“We have crossed the N2.5 billion target for ourselves a long while and we are now looking at N3 billion before the end of the year. We feel glad to be contributing to the development of the state. We are trusting God for the realisation of this goal. And we will not make life difficult for anybody, we are not going to raise any tax.”
The chairman, however , disclosed that the Service would continue deploying technology and data intelligence to identify previously untaxed incomes to bring them into the state tax net, while complying with relevant data protection regulations.
Olatona reaffirmed its commitment to fair, transparent, and taxpayer-friendly administration, urging residents to embrace dialogue in resolving concerns over tax assessments.
He stated that the state’s internally generated revenue is now stronger and more stable than at any other time in its history, despite a reduction in tax enforcement activities, noting that this improved performance demonstrated that the state had built a sustainable tax administration system driven by voluntary compliance rather than coercion.
“Our responsibility is not to punish taxpayers but to ensure fairness. Where there is verifiable evidence that an assessment is excessive, necessary adjustments will be made. We are more interested in helping businesses grow, because thriving businesses ultimately translate into sustainable revenue for government,” he said.
The EKIRS chairman advised taxpayers with concerns over their assessments to visit the Service’s offices for clarification rather than resort to misinformation or public confrontation.
He said EKIRS had intensified taxpayer education through engagement with market associations, landlords’ associations, religious organisations, and other stakeholders to promote awareness and voluntary compliance, and encouraged market associations to engage tax consultants to help members understand tax laws, resolve disputes, and maintain proper financial records.
Olatona appreciated taxpayers for their cooperation, assuring residents that the Service would continue to adopt professionalism, dialogue, and legal compliance in carrying out its responsibilities.
He maintained that 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.
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