The Executive Chairman of the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS), Mr. Olugbenga Olaleye, has said that tax enforcement remains a crucial part of Nigeria’s tax system, especially in the fight against widespread tax evasion and non-compliance. He explained that the move would help the Ogun State Government improve its revenue base and strengthen service delivery to citizens.
Olaleye made this known while speaking with journalists at the OGIRS headquarters in Abeokuta on Wednesday. He praised Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for the opportunity to serve and for his continued support in improving the state’s revenue collection system.
The OGIRS boss noted that the digitalisation of tax operations in the state has made tax payment easier and more convenient for residents. He said taxpayers can now make payments from the comfort of their homes through the OGIRS wallet system or by using designated scratch cards, without having to visit a bank.
According to him, the ongoing tax enforcement exercise is not meant to intimidate anyone but to encourage voluntary compliance and remind defaulters of their civic responsibilities. He said OGIRS officials have been trained to adopt a more civil and professional approach in dealing with taxpayers, which has led to more peaceful and effective operations compared to previous years.
Olaleye explained that the full digitalisation of OGIRS has helped remove operational bottlenecks and improved transparency in the state’s tax system. He added that citizens who pay their taxes promptly stand to enjoy more of the dividends of democracy, including better roads, healthcare, education, and other public services funded through tax revenue.
“Nobody likes to pay tax, but tax enforcement is indispensable in Nigeria because of the widespread non-compliance with tax laws,” Olaleye said. “We have seen great improvement in voluntary compliance across Ogun State, even though a few stubborn individuals still exist.”
He also commended the hard work of OGIRS officials and their consistent efforts in creating awareness about tax responsibilities through media campaigns. According to him, OGIRS has maintained strong public engagement, with radio jingles, TV adverts, and social media campaigns promoting tax education and enlightenment among residents.
“In Ogun State today, hardly a day passes without hearing messages on TV, radio, or social media encouraging people to pay their taxes. These efforts are part of our awareness campaign to make tax payment a shared responsibility,” he added.
Also speaking at the media briefing, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Revenue Matters, Mr. Ayodele Ademosu, said the state government recently visited the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Igbesa as part of its compliance monitoring exercise. He clarified that the visit was not to enforce tax collection but to issue a warning to enterprises operating within the zone on the importance of fulfilling their tax obligations.
Ademosu revealed that companies operating in the Free Trade Zone were given a notice period ranging from seven to 21 days to present documents to justify their objections to the tax figures issued to them. He urged the companies to take advantage of the grace period to regularise their tax status with the government.
In the same vein, the Director of Tax Operations at OGIRS, Mr. Oladele Zaka, and the Director of Legal Services and Enforcement, Mr. Babatunde Oyefule, said the ongoing exercise aims to improve compliance among companies and ensure all outstanding revenues owed to the government are collected. They stressed that the operation was not designed to harass or embarrass anyone but to ensure fairness and accountability in the tax system.
They added that all companies and individuals are expected to play their part in supporting the state’s development agenda by paying their taxes promptly and truthfully.
As Ogun State continues to drive economic growth and infrastructural development, the government said it would not relent in ensuring that everyone contributes their fair share through lawful tax payments.
