Ekiti Traders Cry Out Over Exorbitant, Multiple Tax
Traders and shop owners at the King’s Market (Erekesan), Ado-Ekiti, have appealed to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, to intervene in what they described as an “obnoxious and multiple tax regime” imposed by the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS).
In a statement signed by Mrs. Aremu (Welfare Officer), Mr. Ayodele Denge (Treasurer), and Mr. Dickson Ndukuba (Financial Secretary), the traders lamented that their businesses are being strangled by arbitrary levies and shop closures allegedly carried out by revenue officials.
They claimed that the income tax rate imposed on them rose by over 400 percent between 2024 and 2025, despite several meetings with EKIRS management to seek redress.
According to the association, traders who paid ₦16,000 as tax in 2024 are now being charged ₦75,000 for the 2025 fiscal year.
They also described the situation as “unbearable,” adding that many have received threats of shop closure from revenue officers allegedly acting under the supervision of a certain “Madam Ireti.”
“We are being weighed down by multiple taxes and levies from different government agencies, many of which are duplicated. This has created unnecessary financial hardship for us,” the statement read.
“We call on the government, the Ministry of Commerce, and EKIRS to urgently review the tax regime. Enough of this extortion—we can no longer breathe.”
Reacting, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Olaniran Olatona, dismissed the traders’ claims as “politically motivated noise” aimed at discrediting Governor Oyebanji’s administration.
He stated that the agency had not conducted any tax enforcement exercises in the last eight months.
Olatona urged affected traders to report any cases of overbilling to his office for proper verification and audit. “If anyone has been wrongly billed, let them come forward. These allegations are exaggerated and politically driven. Once the primaries are over, everyone will see clearly,” he said.
A journalist with a speciality in politics, judiciary, and investigation for in-depth stories as a correspondent, among others. He covers all segments of Ekiti State, providing a platform for the people to air their views on issues affecting them.
