Micah Jonah
February 2, 2026
The Federal Government has urged the Ondo State Government to fully implement the newly introduced tax reform acts in line with the national fiscal policy framework.
The call was made on Monday in Akure by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, during a public lecture organised as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Ondo State.
Oyedele said the state should align its fiscal policies with federal reforms, noting that the new tax policy officially took effect on January 1, 2026. He also advised the state government to enact a State Tax Harmonization Law to address the problem of nuisance and illegal taxation.
He said Ondo State could further strengthen taxpayer confidence by hosting a national Tax Ombudsman office for the South West, introducing an annual Tax Accountability Report for taxpayers, and developing a comprehensive tax and fiscal policy framework to guide spending, revenue mobilisation and debt management.
According to him, inclusive development would also require each local government council to prepare an economic development plan, supported by a dedicated portal on the state’s website where councils can publish long term plans, annual budgets and audited financial statements to enhance transparency and accountability.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Olu Arowolo Verheije, said the President remained committed to supporting Ondo State in unlocking its development potential. She highlighted major federal projects in the state, including the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, the Akure Ore dual carriageway, the Akure Ado Ekiti Road and the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Akure.
She also noted that the Ondo Deep Sea Port project in Araromi was gaining momentum following the recent revalidation of its licence, describing it as a key infrastructure project that would become the deepest seaport in West Africa when completed.
In his keynote address, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said Ondo State had made significant progress across sectors in its first 50 years and expressed optimism that the next five decades would be driven by economic diversification, technology and innovation, human capital development and strong institutions.
He said the state’s economic transition from primary production to value addition and industrial processing was already evident through projects such as the Sunshine Free Trade Zone, Golden Ceramics Industrial Plant, the Ethanol Plant in Ore and the Ondo Deep Sea Port.
The Governor added that tourism, education, skills acquisition and youth empowerment programmes would remain central to the state’s long term development vision, anchored on transparency, accountability and inclusive growth.
