The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tax reform compliance, effective execution, and practical policy implementation aimed at driving real economic value and sustainable development for residents.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance on Tuesday while hosting the Tax Reform Summit jointly organised by the Office of the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue and the State Treasury Office. The summit, themed “Tax Reform Summit: The Lagos Implementation Road Map – From Reforms to Results: Creating a Tax Environment that Works for All,” was held at GRA, Ikeja.
Sanwo-Olu described the summit as timely, noting that the reform initiative is designed to build a tax system that is simple, efficient, and supportive of economic growth while protecting small businesses and vulnerable citizens.
According to him, the reforms will help block revenue leakages, expand the tax net, reduce multiple taxation, and strengthen trust between government and taxpayers.
“The goal is to create a tax environment that works for all — one that supports strong economic growth, protects small businesses and vulnerable citizens, and ensures efficiency and transparency in revenue administration,” the governor said, urging stakeholders to play active roles in making the reforms successful.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Abdulkabir Ogungbo, said the summit marked another milestone in Lagos State’s continuous engagement with stakeholders and alignment with the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
Ogungbo disclosed that a state committee had been constituted to work with the presidential committee, leading to extensive consultations across the public and private sectors, including revenue agencies, ministries, financial institutions, transport operators, and local governments.
He said the engagement was aimed at developing innovative and transparent solutions to address multiple taxation, harmonise revenue lines, integrate state and local government revenue systems, and deploy data-driven platforms for efficient administration.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, said Lagos could not rely on past achievements in revenue generation, stressing the need to continually adapt to economic realities and evolving fiscal demands.
“The focus is to move from policy to practice. The success of tax reform implementation will determine our capacity to fund infrastructure, deliver quality public services, and improve the quality of life of Lagos residents,” Oluyomi said.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr. Ayodele Subair, said the tax reform law would reduce multiple taxation, simplify the tax base for small and medium-scale enterprises, and protect low-income earners.
He added that Lagos was embedding tax reforms into everyday governance in line with the state’s THEMES Plus development agenda.
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said the reforms were not about increasing tax rates but fixing inefficiencies within the system.
Oyedele stressed that standardisation, harmonisation, and transparency were essential to rebuilding taxpayer trust and ensuring Nigeria’s fiscal sustainability, particularly at the sub-national level.
“The reforms are intentional and necessary. People comply when they trust the system and see value for money,” he said, adding that Lagos was well positioned to provide leadership in tax reform implementation.
The summit ended with a renewed call for collaboration among government agencies, local councils, businesses, and taxpayers to translate tax reforms into measurable economic and developmental outcomes.
