The Chairman of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Adebayo Rojugbokan, has called on Nigerians to support the new tax reform of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The financial expert said the policy would be beneficial to Nigeria’s economic development, urging Nigerians not to entertain fears about the reform.
The Punch earlier reported that President Tinubu had urged Nigerians not to be apprehensive about the new tax regime scheduled to take effect in 2026, assuring that the policy would bring relief to the poor, low-income earners and small businesses.
Tinubu also said the recent economic reforms undertaken by his administration were necessary to revitalise the economy, adding that early indicators showed positive outcomes.
Rojugbokan spoke at an end-of-year get-together organised by the Akure Bankers’ Committee, held in Akure, the state capital, on Sunday.
The ODIRS boss, who also delivered a keynote address titled ‘Taxation, Innovation and Inclusion: Redefining Nigeria’s Financial Ecosystem’, said there was nothing to fear about the tax reform.
He said, “Tax reform is just a way of modernising our taxation. It is a right of the people, and it can mean that individuals will reduce the number of taxes in Nigeria in 2026.
“The number of taxes is reduced, and there are some people who are afraid of it. Taxation is a contribution by individuals for the development of the state and the nation. So, since we are doing it correctly, we shouldn’t be afraid of anything.
“Nothing new is coming. It’s just taxation, to ensure that there is transparency and accountability in the process.”
He urged taxpayers, banks and regulators to embrace clarity, compliance and innovation in the policy, stressing that taxation, when properly managed, could drive national development.
On the state’s revenue drive, Rojugbokan said the agency was doing a lot to achieve its internally generated revenue target, noting that the service was involved in several activities to educate people on the importance of taxation.
He said, “Part of what we are doing today is what we expect people to know. We are educating citizens at every opportunity. We are using radio, social media and one-on-one engagements. We are using every channel, and it is yielding good results for the state.”
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Committee and Akure Branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Aina Olumide, commended the state government for providing an enabling environment for banking operations.
He also lauded security agencies and other stakeholders for their continued support in safeguarding financial institutions in the state.
