Maroc - VERACITY.COM.NG - A La Une - 01/Aug 12:12

ODIRS Executive Chairman resigns

Dr. Tolu Adegbie, the Executive Chairman of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS), has resigned pursuant to Section 12 (1), (a) of the Ondo State Revenue Administration Law 2018.According to his resignation letter, Dr. Adegbie's departure is linked to his recent appointment as a member of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Implementation Committee. This new national role necessitates his physical absence from the office for the next few months, ushering in a new chapter in his distinguished career.During his tenure at ODIRS, Dr. Adegbie led the agency through a period of remarkable progress and transformation. His leadership was marked by the implementation of groundbreaking reforms and initiatives that significantly enhanced the state’s revenue generation and tax administration. His relentless commitment to improving fiscal policies, increasing transparency, and engaging taxpayers left a lasting impact on the state's financial landscape.He was appointed by the then Ondo State Governor Late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, from Wema Bank Plc as a member of the transition Budget and Finance Committee in December, 2016.  He was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Revenue to Mr Governor in December 2017 and later appointed as the Chairman, Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) in January 2018 where he systematically increased revenue from monthly average of the N700 million in 2018 when he came on board to N3.5billion in 2023. The former top management staff of Wema Bank Plc who has worked in several commercial banks in Nigeria and the USA has some achievements during his tenure as the Executive Chairman of ODIRS which spanned from 2018 to 30th July, 2024He ensured the granting of Administrative and Financial autonomy of the Board and conversion to Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) with the passage and accent into law of the Ondo State Revenue Administration Law 2018. He restructured the board and so far, recruited over 700 new graduates into the ODIRS to bolster the work force. He introduced Model Tax Stations (one-stop-shop) within the Banking Hall of Wema Bank & UBA in Akure.He carried out renovation on the 24 Tax Stations & equipment of ODIRS on his assumption to the office. He embraced ICT driven revenue collection methods and automated processes which has yielded a lot of positive results in eliminating touting, blockage of leakages, introduction of POS, introduction of electronic Tax Clearance Certificate (e-TCC), better relationship with banks, establishing of Contact Centre for enquiries, complaint and citizens feedback, automation of Land Use Charge process and collection.A new Revenue House complex was built in Akure on over 20,000sqm of land which is a one-stop-shop with two banks for ease of Tax Payer transactions and faster service.  The complex started and completed within 12 months and was commissioned in September 2020 by Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, with five State Governors in attendance. He has so far built five new modern taxstations in Ose, Ese Odo, Ile-Oluji, Ondo West Local Government Areas of Ondo State while some are under construction. He has organized over 30 local & international trainings for the staff of his agency in their various area of expertise since its flag-off in 2021.He has written a book to document the whole transformational story of Ondo State Internal Revenue Service as an author. The title of the book is How We Did It- The transformational story of Ondo State Internal Revenue Service. The book is available at http://www.toluadegbie.ngFurthermore, under his administration he has intervened in some of these areas to contribute to the development of our State in general as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): In 2018, he presented a Generating Set to Nursery and Primary Schools in Akure.In 2019, he graded roads in Ondo West, Akure South, Odigbo Akure North LGAs as part of our Community Impact Projects (CIP).  In 2019, he graded 12 roads in Akure South, Akure North, Odigbo and Ondo West LGAs.Ondo State Internal Revenue Service donated the sum of One Million Three Hundred and Sixty-Four Thousand Naira Only (N1,364,000.00) to empathize with the vulnerable Citizens and support government activities during COVID-19 outbreak.In 2020, we graded 12 roads in Akure South, Akure North, Okitipupa, Ondo West, Odigbo, Idanre, Akoko South East, Akoko South West, Akoko North East and Ose LGAs respectively.He installed solar powered street Lights in Akoko Avenue, Ekiti Avenue and Ikare Ijapo Estate Akure, Orita Obele estate, Ajipowo junction,First & second gate Oba Ile estate, Oba Afunbiowo estate gate 1 & 4.  In 2021, he graded 8 roads in Ondo West, Akure South, Akure North, Owo and Ose LGAs. In addition to our yearly Community Impact Projects, we constructed a bridge for Ajipowo Street, Off Ondo Road in Akure South LGA.He erected U-turn reflective Road signs on 1st & 2nd gate turn, Ijapo and 1st, 2nd gate and Sunshine Garden turn in Oba ile.He presented ODIRS customized Water Bottles to Primary Schools in Akure South, Okitipupa, Akoko South East, Irele and Ile-Oluji LGAs.Since 2018 till date, he has supported over 50 Entertainment shows in Akure, government initiatives, NGOs, Association’s programmes to the tune of over N10,000,000.00 yearly.From his resignation letter sighted by our correspondent, he thanked the late Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON and His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for given him opportunity to serve the state in this capacity.“I was able to grow the IGR of the State from N10.9 billion annually as at 2017 to N40.1billion annually in December, 2023, a growth of almost 300%. Our H1 2024 figures is 21.2billion and if we maintain this run rate, we should surpass the 2023 FYE figure. I leave behind an ODIRS that is a well-structured, properly staffed and effective in the delivery of service and value to the state and its citizens whilst operating from a worldclass Headquarters building” he stated.