EKITI IRS BOSS URGES YOUTHS TO ACQUIRE EMPLOYABLE SKILLS, EMBRACE TAX RESPONSIBILITY

The Executive Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS), Mr. Olaniran Olatona, has urged Nigerian youths to acquire relevant skills to improve their employability and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Olatona made the call on Monday in Ado-Ekiti during an engagement between EKIRS and members of the Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC), Ekiti State Chapter.

He said the country's rising unemployment rate was partly caused by the gap between available opportunities and the employability of many young people.

According to him, youths must continuously develop relevant skills to remain competitive in the labour market.

The EKIRS chairman also appealed to affluent individuals and corporate organisations to complement government's efforts by creating employment opportunities for qualified youths.

"No government anywhere in the world can single-handedly meet all the expectations and aspirations of its citizens," he said.

Speaking on taxation, Olatona urged youths to see tax payment as a civic responsibility that directly supports the development of their communities.

He appealed for understanding from taxpayers, assuring them that EKIRS personnel would continue to discharge their duties with fairness, professionalism and civility.

On concerns over the perceived multiplicity of taxes and levies in the state, Olatona disclosed that efforts were ongoing to develop a harmonised framework for tax and levy administration.

He explained that EKIRS could not collect revenue on behalf of local government councils without their consent, noting that such an arrangement would contradict the constitutional autonomy of the councils.

The chairman reaffirmed the agency's readiness to partner with the Nigerian Youth Congress and other stakeholders to strengthen tax education and public sensitisation across the state.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Youth Congress ,Ekiti State Chapter, Prince Temitope Adedara, described the engagement as enlightening and informative.

Adedara pledged that members of the council would cascade the knowledge gained to youths across the 16 local government areas of the state to promote better understanding of tax administration.

He added that the council believed in constructive dialogue and meaningful engagement as effective means of resolving issues rather than resorting to protests.

As part of the engagement, Olatona presented copies of the Nigeria Tax Laws, 2025 and the Ekiti State Revenue Administration Law, 2025 to the youth delegation to enhance their understanding of the legal framework guiding tax administration at the federal, state and local government levels.