Osun Governor Pledges Citizen-Friendly Tax Reforms, No Additional Burden
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has firmly assured residents that his administration's tax reform policy is not intended to impose new hardships on citizens. Instead, the governor emphasized that the reforms are designed to ensure fairness, balance, and sustainable revenue generation for the state.
Stakeholders' Engagement on New Tax Law Implementation
The governor gave this assurance during a three-day stakeholders' engagement on the implementation of the new tax law in Osun State. The event was held on Tuesday at the Centre for Black Culture in Osogbo, the state capital. Adeleke, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, acknowledged that taxation remains a major source of government revenue. However, he stressed that the ongoing reforms are structured to ease the burden on the populace while improving efficiency in revenue collection.
Expanding Tax Net and Supporting Informal Sector
Governor Adeleke explained that the reforms aim to expand the tax net by bringing more operators in the informal sector into compliance. This move is expected to increase funds available for social services and infrastructure development across Osun State. "This retreat is timely and necessary as the new tax Acts are not designed to place undue burden on citizens or businesses," Adeleke stated. "Rather, they are intended to promote fairness, expand the tax net, improve compliance and strengthen Osun State's revenue base through transparency, efficiency and digital innovation."
Pro-Business and People-Oriented Framework
The governor added that the policy framework is people-oriented, pro-business, and investor-friendly. It includes special consideration for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), which play a critical role in economic growth and job creation in Nigeria. "Our approach to tax reform is deliberate and people-centred," Adeleke noted. "The new framework recognises the importance of SMEs and provides a gradual, fair and supportive pathway for integrating the informal sector into the formal economy."
Safeguards for Low-Income Earners
Further highlighting the reforms, Governor Adeleke pointed out that safeguards have been implemented to protect low-income earners. These include reliefs, exemptions, and reduced tax rates where applicable. "Our goal is balance," he affirmed. "We want to grow revenue without harming livelihoods and build compliance without eroding public trust."
This announcement comes as part of the state's efforts to enhance its revenue base while maintaining a supportive environment for businesses and citizens, ensuring that tax policies contribute positively to Osun's economic development.
