In a remarkable ceremony held at the Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House Grounds, the Ekiti State Forestry Commission was awarded for its exceptional performance in internal revenue generation, marking a significant achievement under the leadership of Otunba Adekunle Sunday David. The Commission, which set a target to generate 73 million Naira, surpassed this goal by generating over 75 million Naira, further demonstrating its commitment to the economic growth of Ekiti State.
The award was presented by the State Governor, His Excellency Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, who expressed his gratitude to the Executive Secretary of the Forestry Commission and the team for their dedication and outstanding contribution to the state’s revenue generation efforts. Alongside the award, the Governor presented a motorcycle to the Commision through the Executive Secretary as an encouragement for continued performance in revenue generation.
Governor Oyebanji took the opportunity to commend various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that had also excelled alongside the Forestry Commission in their efforts, stressing the importance of collective responsibility in enhancing the state’s revenue potential. He emphasized that the financial resources at the government’s disposal are crucial for the delivery of infrastructure, social services, and human development.
During his address, the Governor highlighted the central role collaboration plays in effective revenue generation. He reiterated that revenue mobilization is a shared responsibility among all MDAs, local government councils, and the citizens of Ekiti State. To facilitate such collaboration, he encouraged MDAs to actively promote tax compliance and work together to prevent revenue leakages.
“Today’s meeting is not just an opportunity to collaborate but also a moment for introspection,” the Governor stated. He called for transparency in tracking progress, identifying challenges, and collaboratively finding solutions to enhance revenue generation strategies.
As part of the ongoing strategy to enhance revenue performance, Governor Oyebanji identified key areas for future focus, including modernizing revenue collection systems, raising public awareness and education, improving inter-agency coordination, expanding the tax base, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms. He acknowledged the commendable strides made by the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS) in improving collection across various sectors while stressing that further work is necessary to build on this momentum.
In his speech, the Executive Chairman of EKIRS, Olaniran Olatona, expressed gratitude for the recognition and outlined the collaborative efforts that made this achievement possible. He thanked the Governor for his visionary leadership and underscored that the growth in the state’s internal revenue generation is a collective endeavor involving all MDAs.
“This gathering is more than a celebration; it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to the prosperity of Ekiti State,” Olatona remarked. He urged all MDAs to draw inspiration from high-performing colleagues and aim for excellence in their roles.
The recognition also extended to several other MDAs that received awards for their outstanding performance, including the Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Land Services, Ministry of Education, Ekiti State Housing Corporation, Ministry of Agriculture, Ekiti State Signage and Advertisement Agency, and the Directorate of Farm Settlement.
In closing, the Executive Chairman of EKIRS encouraged all stakeholders to harness innovation and technology and to embrace transparency and accountability as guiding principles in their collective efforts to drive Ekiti State towards a prosperous future.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from all participants to work collaboratively for the economic upliftment of Ekiti State, demonstrating that through unity and shared ambition, great achievements are possible for the benefit of all citizens.