Adebayo Adenrele
Ekiti State has ranked first in the 2023 annual growth rate ranking by 75.09%.
This was contained in a recent report circulated by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) at its 155th meeting at Zuma Rock Resort, Suleja, Niger State.
According to the report, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Ekiti state increased from ₦17.03b in 2022 to ₦29.82b in 2023, representing a 75 percent growth rate.
The state has also moved from being one of the worst five States to the 16th position in Total Collections Ranking and progressed from the 33rd to 15th position under the Direct Assessment Parameters.
Reacting to the development, the State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, described the remarkable improvement as the effect of Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration’s proactive measures and policies which have created a conducive environment for both local and foreign investment and bolstered trust of taxpayers leading to improved voluntary compliance.
Olatunbosun recalled that the data recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that only Ekiti, Lagos and FCT attracted Foreign Investment and contributed to the country’s capital importation in the first quarter of 2024, adding that the State was also prominent among the 10 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that achieved the same feat last year.
Stressing that the administration is irrevocably committed to promoting economic stability and rapidly developing the State, Olatunbosun solicited the continued support of all stakeholders, assuring that the Oyebanji administration’s policy of inclusive governance would continue to encourage participation of all stakeholders towards achieving the desired goals.
The Commissioner also commended the tenacity of the leadership and officials of the State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS) for what he described as the yeoman service they are performing, noting that it is remarkable that they remain humane but firm in the discharge of their duties which culminated in significant improvement in the State’s reporting and innovative collections.