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Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji
The Ekiti State Chapter of the Coalition of United Political Parties has accused the Biodun Oyebanji-led administration of imposing arbitrary taxes, warning that such policies could trigger job losses, frustration, and insecurity in the state.
This is as the sate government dismissed the allegations, insisting that there had been no imposition of multiple or arbitrary taxes on residents.
CUPP Chairman, Dare Adekolu, and the group’s Publicity Secretary, Oluwole Fagboro, in a statement on Wednesday, lamented the impact of what they described as “excessive taxation”on small business owners, noting that it had sparked recurring protests across the state in recent days.
“ A continued arbitrary tax system, if not checked, will send the wrong signal to intending investors and, at home, may lead to job loss, frustration, and insecurity in our land,” the statement read.
The opposition coalition advised Oyebanji to reduce the cost of governance rather than imposing additional financial burdens on residents.
“It is true that Ekiti’s economy needs to transition from a civil service-dominated structure to a more productive, private-sector-driven economy. However, this should not be done at the expense of small businesses, which serve as lifelines for many families and provide employment opportunities,” they added.
CUPP further criticized the government for allegedly failing to engage business owners and other stakeholders before implementing new tax policies, warning that such “undemocratic conduct” could widen the gap between the government and the people.
However, the Ekiti State Government dismissed the allegations, insisting that there had been no imposition of multiple or arbitrary taxes on residents.
The Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, described the reported anti-tax protests as “misguided,”emphasizing that the state remained committed to a fair and transparent tax system.
“The remarkable growth in revenue generation is a direct consequence of blocking loopholes, deploying technology for revenue collection, and ensuring that tax revenue is judiciously spent on development projects,”* Olatunbosun stated.
He urged taxpayers to seek clarification at Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service offices and utilize dispute resolution mechanisms to address grievances rather than resorting to protests.
“The Best of Judgment (BOJ) assessment remains the most reasonable and globally accepted tax practice. It only applies in cases where taxpayers fail to submit accurate and complete financial records as required by law,” he added.
The commissioner assured residents that the government’s tax policies were progressive and neutral, urging businesses to cooperate for the economic development of the state.
