Ooni Urges People on Regular Tax Payment, Commends Aregbesola’s Resilience to Economic Downturn

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has urged the people of Osun to support the state government by being obedient to taxation.

He commended the state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for being resilient in the face of the daunting economy bedeviling the state and Nigeria at large.

The foremost traditional ruler made the call in his palace while receiving the members of the campaign team of Osun Internal Revenue Services, OIRS, who were on an advocacy visit to introduce the new Economic Development Levy (EDL) to the people of the ancient town.

Oba Ogunwusi while addressing staffs of OIRS led by the Acting Chairman, Mr Dayo Oyebanji on the importance of taxation and other levies to human and capital development urged the people of Ife and the entire citizens of the state to always discharge their civic responsibilities as part of effort to complement developmental agenda of the government.

The revered monarch who described Governor Aregbesola as “a good listener and goal getter”, called for proper orientation and sensitization of the residents by the Osun Internal Revenue Service on the usefulness and utility of taxes and levies.

He said the initiative if properly implemented would be a plausible means of generating fund for government to meet some of its statutory obligations in view of the state’s limited resources.

Oba Ogunwusi who reiterated his support for programmes and policies of the state government aimed at bringing development to Osun, said “we are not against the state government for this necessary step”.

The highly placed traditional ruler noted that tax payment was key to economic survival of the state, urging residents of the state to imbibe the culture of prompt tax payment.

According to him, “We would support the state government in its bid to transform the state. Thank God that Ife has become a pacesetter town in Nigeria; you can see the infrastructural development that is ongoing in the town via our efforts. Ife is one of the town that support the government of the day”.

Oba Ogunwusi thereby urged the agents of the State Revenue Service to organise another platform which would be used as forum to educate and enlighten the people at the grassroots.

“We are ready to support the government, but we want your agency to try to dialogue with concerned associations in Ile-Ife so as to succeed in the task”, the monarch reiterated.

Explaining the new levy to the people of Ile-Ife , the Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Services, Mr. Dayo Oyebanji, said the money remained the only viable option to fasttrack infrastructural and economic developments in the state.

He said the levy became necessary due to the dwindling allocation from the federal government as occasioned by the downfall in the price of crude oil.

According to Oyebanji, whatever generated in each town would be recorded and the money would be used to develop each town.

He said Motorcyclists/Tricyclists/Mini Bus commercial drivers would be paying N50 daily, while Tipper/Trailer/other heavy duty trucks operators would pay N200 daily.

According to Oyebanji, traders would pay N50 on market day and artisans (barber, carpenter, bricklayer) etc, would be paying N100 weekly.

He however, urged the monarch and the people of Ile-Ife, to cooperate with the government in order to take the state to the top level.

Speaking, the consultant on Economic Development Levy, Mr. Solanke Hamzat, noted that the levy should not be missed up with Local Government levy on market days.

In their mixed reactions, the participants at the meeting urged the state government to harmonise both local and state levies in such a manner that would be affordable and convenient to payers.