By Abidemi Omoyajowo
The Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS) has said it is intensifying efforts to harmonise tax collection processes across the State as part of measures to eliminate multiple taxation, simplify tax administration and promote a fairer tax system for residents and business owners.
The Executive Chairman of EKIRS, Mr. Olaniran Olatona, disclosed this on Wednesday, while addressing the October Congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, held at the Press Centre, Ado-Ekiti.
Olatona explained that the harmonisation initiative would make it possible for taxpayers to receive a single invoice or receipt covering different tax obligations, thereby reducing the inconvenience associated with multiple demands and improving efficiency in revenue collection.
He said the Service was also leveraging data intelligence to identify individuals and businesses liable to pay higher taxes and expand the tax net, particularly among high-net-worth individuals whose tax contributions could help ease the burden on low-income earners and emerging businesses.
The EKIRS boss urged journalists to support the harmonisation drive by exposing inefficiencies and misconduct among revenue officials, as well as drawing the attention of the Service to individuals and corporate entities with significant tax obligations.
He attributed the sustained growth in the State's internally generated revenue to improved data-driven tax administration, noting that the objective was to ensure that everyone paid the appropriate taxes in accordance with their capacity and the provisions of the law.
Reaffirming the legality of taxes collected by EKIRS, Olatona assured residents that the Service would continue to operate within the ambit of the law while remaining responsive to taxpayers' concerns and expectations.
He, however, identified inadequate public understanding of the respective responsibilities of federal, state and local revenue authorities as one of the factors contributing to negative perceptions about tax administration and allegations of multiple taxation.
He therefore called on journalists to help educate the public on the different taxes and levies legally collectible by the three tiers of government, promising that EKIRS would provide relevant information and training to promote accurate and informed reporting of taxation issues.
The Executive Chairman also encouraged journalists to investigate complaints by taxpayers, particularly business owners, alleging that EKIRS had sealed their business premises, insisting that the Service had moved away from such enforcement practices.
In his remarks, a former NUJ Chairman in Ekiti State and immediate past Technical Adviser on Media to the Governor, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, advocated regular training and enlightenment programmes for journalists on taxation to improve the quality and accuracy of media reports.
Oguntayo commended the Ekiti State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, and his executive team for providing a platform for constructive engagement between journalists and the revenue authority on taxation and related matters.
Speaking at the event, Babatuyi announced that Olatona would be inducted into the Ekiti NUJ Hall of Fame on November 20, 2026, during the Union's Press Week.
He said the recognition was in acknowledgement of the EKIRS Chairman's contributions to Ekiti State and the Union, describing the initiative as a novel and unprecedented development by the Council.
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