Taxation Must Benefit The Masses—Olubadan- Oba Ladoja, Charges Government At All Levels

The Olubadan, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has issued a passionate plea to governments at all levels to ensure that the dividends of tax payments are tangibly felt by the Nigerian public.

The monarch made this call on Thursday at his Oke Aremo palace in Ibadan during a courtesy visit by the top management staff of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Ayoade Solomon Olugbemiga, the paramount ruler emphasized that the primary motivation for civic compliance is the expectation of basic social amenities.

According to Oba Ladoja, citizens discharge their civic responsibilities with the hope of enjoying essential necessities of life, specifically highlighting security, stable water supply, motorable roads, consistent power supply, and job opportunities as the legitimate expectations of every taxpayer. He warned that while the public must remain alive to these responsibilities to prevent the government from being forced into a cycle of excessive borrowing, the state must reciprocate by prioritizing the welfare of the people.

The monarch further used the medium to speak out against the burden of double taxation, which he described as a practice that should be discouraged in the interest of economic stability. He advocated for the deep involvement of taxation experts and professional bodies like the CITN in government tax matters to ensure fairness and technical accuracy in revenue collection.

Addressing the visitors, the monarch invited the CITN leadership to explore the tourist attractions within the ancient city of Ibadan, urging them to contribute their professional quotas to the ongoing development of the land.

Earlier in his address, the President of the CITN, Mr. Innocent Chinyere Ohagwa, stated that the delegation was at the palace to receive royal blessings and draw from the wisdom of traditional institutions. Mr. Ohagwa described Ibadan as a distinguished hub of culture, scholarship, and commerce that has played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s history.

The CITN President acknowledged Oba Ladoja’s remarkable intellect and his contributions to shaping Nigeria’s democratic experience. He noted that traditional institutions represent the earliest framework through which taxation and communal contributions were organized long before modern revenue authorities emerged, making their legacy instructive for contemporary tax administration.

The visit featured prominent traditional titleholders, including the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr) Kolawole Adegbola; the Aare Alasa Olubadan, Chief Muibi Ademola; and the Aare Egbe Omo Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Adegboyega Taofik Adegoke.