Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed the state government’s strong support for the Federal Government’s tax reform agenda, pledging Lagos’ full cooperation in implementing a harmonised and efficient tax system that promotes economic growth and fairness.
The governor gave the assurance on Tuesday at the Tax Reform Summit jointly organised by the Office of the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue and the State Treasury Office in Ikeja. The summit was themed “The Lagos Implementation Road Map – From Reforms to Results: Creating a Tax Environment that Works for All.”
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos aligns fully with the ongoing federal tax reforms being driven by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, describing them as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s fiscal sustainability and improving revenue administration across all tiers of government.
According to him, Lagos is committed to translating federal tax policies into practical, people-focused outcomes at the sub-national level, while ensuring that reforms remain transparent, efficient and supportive of businesses.
“The reforms championed by the Federal Government are not about increasing tax burdens but about fixing inefficiencies, eliminating multiple taxation and building trust in the system,” the governor said. “Lagos will continue to work closely with federal authorities to ensure a tax environment that is fair, predictable and beneficial to all.”
He noted that the reforms would help block revenue leakages, expand the tax net, reduce duplication in tax collection and strengthen accountability, while protecting small businesses and vulnerable citizens.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Mr Abdulkabir Ogungbo, said the summit demonstrated Lagos State’s active alignment with the Federal Government’s tax reform framework.
Ogungbo disclosed that a state-level committee had been constituted to collaborate with the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, leading to extensive stakeholder consultations across ministries, revenue agencies, financial institutions, transport operators and local governments.
He said the engagement was aimed at developing innovative and data-driven solutions to harmonise revenue lines, integrate state and local government revenue systems and eliminate the challenges of multiple taxation.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Abayomi Oluyomi, said effective collaboration between the federal and state governments was essential to the success of tax reforms.
“The move from policy to practice requires synergy across all levels of government. The success of federal tax reforms will directly impact our capacity to fund infrastructure, deliver public services and improve the quality of life of our people,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr Ayodele Subair, said the new tax framework would simplify the tax base for small and medium-scale enterprises, protect low-income earners and reduce compliance burdens.
He added that Lagos is embedding the federal tax reform principles into its governance processes 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 federal reforms were designed to create a unified, transparent and efficient tax system across the country.
Oyedele stressed that standardisation and harmonisation were key to rebuilding taxpayer confidence and ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability, noting that Lagos’ commitment would significantly strengthen national implementation efforts.