Adebayo Adenrele
The Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS) has said the deployment of data intelligence and taxpayer profiling has improved its operations, helping the agency identify tax evaders, prevent overassessment and enhance revenue generation for the state.
The Chairman of EKIRS, Olaniran Olatona, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti at the October Congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, explaining that the agency was using data-driven methods to identify discrepancies in taxpayers’ records, verify declarations and ensure that individuals and businesses paid taxes commensurate with their financial capacity.
Olatona said the approach had strengthened the agency’s ability to identify people who concealed their actual earnings or provided misleading information, while ensuring that taxpayers were not charged beyond their legitimate obligations.
The EKIRS chairman, who linked the initiative to improved revenue administration and the state’s capacity to generate more income, said the agency’s database showed that about 96 per cent of taxpayers were either paying little or nothing.
According to him, the use of data intelligence would help the state move away from indiscriminate tax collection towards a more targeted system based on reliable information and the ability of taxpayers to pay.
Olatona clarified that EKIRS would not impose taxes without legal backing, stressing that the agency remained committed to lawful and transparent revenue administration.
The chairman further clarified that EKIRS had not shut down any shop since July 2025, distancing the agency from reports of business premises being locked over tax-related matters.
He called on journalists to hold public institutions accountable by reporting inefficiency and informing citizens accurately about government policies, noting that constructive engagement between the media and revenue authorities was essential to improving governance and development in Ekiti State.
His words, “I must thank the NUJ Chairman for accommodating me, even at a time when I did not understand him. The kind of work we do is not something people naturally like.
“However, any tax we collect must have a legal basis. If it does not have a legal basis, I will never be involved in collecting it.
“The problem we have now is that many people do not understand the respective responsibilities of local, state and federal revenue services. I also want to implore us all to learn and understand these issues better.
“Since July 2025, we have not closed any shop. If you see anyone locking up shops since that time, it is not us.
“We have data intelligence personnel who profile taxpayers to detect falsehoods and determine whether we are overcharging people. This enables us to identify those who have substantial financial resources and go after people with deep pockets.
“About 96 per cent of the people on our database are either paying less or paying nothing.
“Please, journalists, do not cover up inefficiency. That is how we can develop Ekiti State. I want to thank you for the good work you are doing in Ekiti, particularly in ensuring that people are properly informed”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, commended the EKIRS Chairman for his efforts in improving revenue generation, noting that his commitment and initiatives had contributed to the state’s revenue performance despite his demanding schedule.
Babatuyi described journalists and revenue authorities as critical stakeholders in the development of Ekiti State, stressing the need for sustained collaboration between the media and government institutions to promote accountability, improve public understanding of tax policies and accelerate the state’s development.
