Adebayo Adenrele
The Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS) has distributed multi-million naira cheques to business owners affected by rainstorm in the state.
The Chairman of EKIRS, Olaniran Olatona said the swift and thoughtful response was borne of their commitment to standing with people in time of adversity, in order for them to benefit from the shared prosperity agenda of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
The cheques, given to tax-compliant business owners, were distributed at a ceremony held in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
Olatona, who described protection of lives and property as the core purpose of a responsible government, added that no beneficiary received less than 200% of the tax payment in the last two years.
Olatona explained that the agency is not competing with State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) but to specially award tax complaint citizens affected by the rainstorm and have been contributing to the development of Ekiti State.
He said, “We are not doing competition with SEMA, we are awarding tax complaint citizens who were affected by that disaster.
“This is to stand with people in terms of adversity, for the sake of shared prosperity agenda of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
“The core purpose of any responsive government is the welfare and protection of the citizens. When you suffer, we also suffer. If we kill your business with excess revenue, we can’t collect anything again after that.
“This action transcends simple financial efforts,
About safeguarding the resources of that revenue, for the development of Ekiti state.
“I can’t categorically talk about the total amount but there’s no beneficiary here who received less than 200% of the tax they have paid, some received 300%, 400%, depending on their tax payment record.
“We are committed to partnering with people, we are not your enemy, we are not here to witch-hunt you, you should continue in your civil responsibility in payment of your taxes”.
Adetona also hailed Governor Biodun Oyebanji for approving the initiative with a promise to continue to work towards the realisation of his shared prosperity agenda.
On his part, Governor Biodun Oyebanji applauded the leadership and staff of EKIRS for the initiative, acknowledging the gesture as the first of its kind in the state.
Oyebanji, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Abibat Adubiaro added the intervention was unprecedented and a testament of their commitment towards sharing with the pains of the people.
Professor Adubiaro urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the palliative and encourage them to pay their tax as and when due.
The General Manager, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA),Oludare Asaolu expressed his delight at the intervention of EKIRS, saying the leadership has proven to be “tax collectors of many differences”.
He stressed that while tax collectors are only known to take from the citizens, EKIRS has shown the sign of empathy and sympathy which should be commended by all and sundry.
Asaolu also disclosed that Governor Oyebanji has approved an amount of money to donate to rainstorm victims, which according to him would be distributed very soon.
Speaking with beneficiaries, Kingsley Chukwuebuka appreciated the state government and EKIRS for their intervention, saying that such gesture was unprecedented.
Chukwuebuka, who said to have received the sum of N70, 000, disclosed that he paid N40,000 as tax in 2024.
Adebimpe Omoyeni also commended EKIRS for standing by them through thick and thin, with a pledge to continue to support the government.
