The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ekiti State Council has called on Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to prevail on the Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service, Olaniran Olatona and members of his staff to operate with decency and professionalism in the course of tax collection.
NUJ in a communique issued after it’s monthly meeting held in Ado Ekiti confirmed that the alleged uncivilized conduct, indiscipline and high-handedness of the Chairman and his staff are capable of instigating the public against the government and threaten the existing peace of the state.
The union affirmed that the call became imperative following petitions and reports by traders and concerned citizens about their persistent harassment and intimidation by workers of the EKIRS on the order of the Chairman, Olaniran Olatona.
The communique reads: “We have been inaundated with petitions and calls from members of the public over the uncivilized mode of operations of the Chairman and his team in the name of making money to meet up with target.
“The people who spoke with us lamented that Olatona and his team have been going about in the dead of the night to seal- off shops and bill traders arbitrarily without considering the current economic realities and nature of their business”.
They alleged that the service bill them between fifteen to forty thousand Naira for shops that has a stock of less than fifty thousand Naira adding that whenever they visit the office to bargain, the workers treat them with disdain and use words against them as if they were slaves.
The complainants alleged that Olatona and his workers are always in the habit of bragging that they have full autonomy to do whatever they like and that even the Governor cannot stop them.
Considering this petitions and report, NUJ at it’s congress foresees great danger, hence the call on the Governor to intervene and call the Chairman to order before the people start attacking his government.