Former Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Mrs Ogun Funmilayo Theresa popularly called OFT, has condemned the tax policy initiative of the current administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji with the signal that the policy is choking the businesses in the state.
The Ekiti State Government had urged the people of the state and members of the public to disregard the news making the rounds alleging it of imposing multiple taxation or introducing new ones in the state.
The PDP Chieftain gave the condemnation in a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Friday, and signed by her Special Adviser on Media, Oladimeji Atenibiaje.
Responding to the anger displayed by some businessmen and women in Ado Ekiti metropolis over the tax brouhaha, Funmi Ogun stated that it was utterly wrong for the government to place high prime on generating revenues at the expense of the populace.
She stressed the need for Ekiti government to be cautious about how it goes about its tax policy to prevent sudden and gradual closure of business premises in the state. The PDP chieftain added that no state can witness radical growth of Medium and Small Scale Enterprises while under the burden of multiple taxation.
Flowing from the above, Funmi Ogun raised the opinion that multiple taxation must have accounted for the slow pace of development of MSMEs under the current government despite relentless actions and efforts to propel businesses through such initiative.
Funmi Ogun advised Governor Oyebanji to relax the tax policy by reaching workable agreement with business owners to avert annihilation of businesses in Ekiti and cause serious economic crises like job losses, family upheavals and poverty.
The politician said, “I was saddened to hear that business owners were protesting against the government in a state like Ekiti, that is poorly industrialized. This is not a cheery news to any patriotic citizen like me.
“How can business owners be under the burden of multiple taxation when some states are giving tax holidays to intending investors to attract them? Even Lagos State, which is heavily industrialized, is still giving tax relief to business owners.
“I heard many petty traders and owners of MSMEs whose businesses are standing on one leg raising serious allegations of paying over five to six taxes in one year. Most troubling was how these taxes were being jacked up astronomically. This trend must change in the interest of all of us.
“This shouldn’t happen when we are craving for a prosperous state. This is part of what the PDP government is coming to correct when we take the mantle in 2026”.
Speaking during a meeting with the Management of the State Internal Revenue Service led by the Agency’s Chairman, Mr. Olaniran Olatona, the State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun explained that the remarkable growth in revenue generation is a direct consequence of blocking loopholes and deploying technology for the collection of revenue as well as ensure the money collected is judiciously spent on development.
The Commissioner who described the purported protest as misguided, stressed the commitment of the State Government to ensuring that the people pay fair tax, adding that the State’s tax system has been designed to be progressive, transparent and neutral.
Noting that the Best of Judgment (BOJ) assessment remains the most reasonable and globally accepted tax practice that can help ensure that all eligible taxpayers contribute fairly to Ekiti State’s economic development, Olatunbosun said it only applies in cases where taxpayers fail to submit accurate and complete financial records as required by law.