Oyo State Government Denies Reports of New Entertainment Tax on Social Events

The Oyo State Government has officially dismissed a viral document suggesting the introduction of a new tax on social events such as burials, weddings and naming ceremonies. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, the post circulating online was declared fake and described as part of efforts to mislead the public.

According to the government’s rebuttal, an authentic tax or levy document must carry a specific revenue code, bear the signature of the Chairman of the Oyo State Internal Revenue Board and include the board’s official address. The viral post allegedly lacked all of these elements. The Commissioner emphasised that none of the statutory procedures required for a genuine tax measure had been observed in the document making the rounds.

The government further warned that as the next election cycle draws closer, various tactics will be used by politically-motivated actors to misinform the public and undermine achievements of the current administration. The Commissioner urged bloggers, media platforms and social-media users to verify information before publishing, cautioning that spread of unverified content harms public trust and good governance.

Residents, event organisers and industry stakeholders had expressed alarm over the possibility of a new entertainment levy; however, the government’s clarification appears aimed at calming fears and reaffirming that no additional tax has been introduced at this time.