Ondo State government has announced plans to clamp down on revenue officials who set roadblocks for tax and levy collection across the state.

Bayo Rojugbokan, acting chairman of the Ondo State Revenue Service (ODRIS), stated on Sunday in Akure that the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) had banned all road taxes, stickers, and manual revenue collection on highways by state and non-state actors.

Mr Rojugbokan emphasised that the ban was aimed at improving the ease of doing business, with a mandate that all tax payments must be made digitally and through approved channels.

He said the enforcement was aimed at ending coercive and illegal revenue practices, noting that the state government had formed a task force to ensure its implementation.

The ODRIS boss explained that the task force would patrol roads and clamp down on those engaging in unauthorised revenue collection and harassing motorists.

“Anybody you see on the road now collecting taxes is a non-state actor; henceforth, we’re going after them and arresting them,” he said.

“Apart from the Ondo State task force on illegal revenue collection, the Joint Revenue Board has its own team patrolling to ensure that people do not stay on the road to harass Nigerians again. The era of paying tax on the road is over. You cannot pay tax in cash. You pay through the system deployed to make payment easier for everyone.”

According to Mr Rojugbokan, stopping people on the road and collecting cash from them is illegal in Ondo State.

The ODRIS chairman explained that the new tax law had harmonised tax administration into a single and simplified framework and eliminated multiple taxation.

Mr Rojugbokan said the clampdown would begin in April, in the second quarter of the year, and advised residents to report any illegal collectors to the relevant authorities.

“Very soon, we will deploy our people and begin to arrest them. If you see anyone, let us know. Our numbers are everywhere. Call us, and we will act. Starting this month (April), there will be no more tax collection on the road in Ondo State,” he said.

“We have started using technology, and we will continue to improve on it because that is the only way to make our people happy. Tax collection should not be a burden on taxpayers. You don’t need to come to our office. 

“Just go online, register on the https://www.odirs.ng platform, select the tax you want to pay, generate your assessment and pay through your bank. Your receipt will be sent to your phone,” he said.

Mr Rojugbokan also stated that the tax clearance certificate is now being processed seamlessly online, without the need for physical visits.

“At the end of the year, if you need your tax clearance, you don’t need to come to our office; just apply online or through the nearest tax station.

“Once approved, it will reflect in your email immediately. Within a day, you will receive notification that your tax clearance is ready for download,” he said.

The ODRIS boss urged residents to embrace the digital system and avoid dealing with unauthorised individuals, assuring that strict enforcement would restore order and transparency in tax administration. 

(NAN)