Ondo State’s Judiciary generated N165 million in 2021, the highest revenue generated by Ministries, Departments and Agencies that year, according to the state’s internal revenue service.

Tolu Adegbie, Chairman, Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS), made the declaration on Friday in Akure at the inauguration of newly-built toilets and another renovated toilet at the state’s High Court.

He said it was the first time the service embarked on such projects similar to Corporate Social Responsibility for another arm of the government with the approval of the governor.

The chairman also said that the judiciary generated N136 million in 2020, and the ODIRS had always given back by grading roads leading to the courts and providing street lights.

According to him, this is a form of encouragement to areas and people doing well in terms of payment of tax and land use charge to the government.

“The service has always rewarded productivity and it is the reason, with the approval of the governor that the toilet was built at the High Court.

“In early 2021, we had a meeting with all the top 20 generating Ministries Departments and Agencies to make sure that in 2021, figures go up.

“We got approval of the governor and when it got to the turn of the Judiciary, it requested for toilet, that once they get that toilet, they will work like never before.

“By November last year, when we looked at the figures, the Judiciary made the highest amount of collection of revenue in the history of Ondo State,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Williams Akintiroye, appreciated ODIRS for the gesture and promised to give back.

Mr Akintiroye promised that the Judiciary would improve on its revenue collection with a target of N200 million in 2022.

He said the target was feasible, with the creation of more courts in areas, communities, and towns where there were none.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, urged the judiciary to continue the revenue generation drive.

Mr Akeredolu called for more incentives for the people working at the court’s registry as a way of encouragement.

(NAN)