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Nigeria’s Federal Government has urged the Ondo State Government to fully implement newly introduced tax reform laws, saying alignment with national fiscal policy is critical for curbing illegal taxation and strengthening revenue management.
Speaking at a public lecture in Akure on Monday, Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, said Ondo State should urgently enact a State Tax Harmonisation Law to eliminate multiple and unauthorized taxes.
The lecture was held as part of events marking the 50th anniversary of Ondo State.
Oyedele said states must reform their fiscal systems to reflect changes already adopted at the federal level, warning that fragmented tax practices undermine accountability and economic confidence.
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He urged the state to go beyond compliance by positioning itself as a leader in taxpayer protection.
The state, he said, could host the national Tax Ombud office for the South West region, allowing Ondo to play a central role in defending taxpayer rights and resolving disputes.
Oyedele also proposed new accountability measures, including the introduction of an annual Tax Accountability Report to be issued to every taxpayer in the state.
He said Ondo should also develop a comprehensive fiscal policy framework to guide public spending, revenue generation, and debt oversight.
To promote inclusive development, Oyedele called on each local government council to create its own economic development plan.
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He added that the state should establish a dedicated portal on its official website where all local governments would publish long term development plans, yearly budgets, and audited financial statements to strengthen transparency.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Olu Arowolo Verheijen, said the president remains committed to supporting Ondo State’s economic growth.
She highlighted several major federal projects underway in the state, including 71 kilometers of the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway, which she described as a major infrastructure project reshaping Nigeria’s Atlantic coastline.
Other ongoing federal investments include the Akure Ore dual carriageway, the Akure Ado Ekiti Road, and the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Akure.
She said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa recently received a revalidated license for the port, calling it a key milestone toward delivery.
When completed, the port is expected to become West Africa’s deepest seaport, with a natural draft of approximately 18 meters.
In his keynote address, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said Ondo State had recorded steady progress across multiple sectors since its creation five decades ago.
He expressed optimism that the next 50 years would be defined by economic diversification, technology driven growth, human capital development, and stronger institutions.
Aiyedatiwa said the state’s economy is gradually shifting from primary production to value added manufacturing and industrial processing.
He cited projects such as the Sunshine Free Trade Zone, the Golden Ceramics Industrial Plant, the Ethanol Plant in Ore, and the Ondo Deep Sea Port as evidence of the administration’s focus on job creation and industrial expansion.
The governor added that tourism is being repositioned as a growth sector through investments in coastal development, eco tourism sites, and cultural heritage assets.
He said the government continues to invest heavily in education, skills training, and youth empowerment, describing human capital as the state’s most important long term resource.
