By Funke Jomori, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS) has affirmed it is moving away from aggressive enforcement and will instead focus on supporting businesses to grow, stressing that a healthy business environment is the only sustainable path to increased state revenue.
The Chairman of EKIRS, Mr. Olaniran Olatona, stated this during a media briefing in Ado-Ekiti.
According to him, the agency has adopted taxpayer education, dialogue and voluntary compliance as its core strategy.
“If businesses don’t grow, we won’t be able to grow our revenue. That is why we are concerned about your businesses. We want them to survive, expand and prosper because that is the only sustainable way government revenue can grow,” Olatona said.
The EKIRS boss explained that the service is no longer relying on shop closures and roadblocks. Instead, officials are now visiting businesses, markets, universities and professional associations to sensitise taxpayers on their obligations.
He added that EKIRS will also organise seminars for traders and small business owners to improve knowledge of tax laws, record keeping and business management. He described ignorance of tax regulations as one of the biggest challenges in the informal sector.
“We want our people to understand taxation better. We are ready to educate them on how to keep proper records, manage their businesses and comply with the law. We don’t want businesses to collapse because when they grow, the state also grows,” he stated.
Olatona urged market associations and business groups to engage professional tax consultants to guide members on their obligations, noting that this would reduce disputes and build trust between taxpayers and the revenue agency.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dialogue, transparency and digital innovation declared EKIRS will continue to create a tax system that supports business growth, attracts investment and drives Ekiti State’s economic development.
