By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
EXECUTIVE Chairman, Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, has solicited the cooperation of Local Governments Council Chairmen and other critical stakeholders for implementation of the state Land Charge Law, 2024, (Property tax).
Enehe who made the call on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ engagement on the implementation of the Land Use Charge Law, 2024 held at KGIRS office said the aim was to boost internal revenue generation.
The Executive Chairman who reeled out the significance of the law, said it harmonizes all revenue accruals into one cohesive framework to enhance revenue generation for all the Local Government Councils in Kogi state.
He added that the law (Land Use Charge) which can also be referred to as property tax when fully implemented could foster data-driven decision making, pave the way for the development of smart cities and job creation in the state.
Enehe pointed out that the law which is in line with the ongoing tax reforms at national level, is aimed at streamlining revenue collection, promote transparency and to ensure that all stakeholders contribute their fair share towards the development of Kogi state.
“I firmly believe that the successful implementation of this law will yield enormous benefits for our Local Government Councils and for our dear state at large.
“KGIRS has been collecting tenament rate on behalf of the Local Government, but the collection of ground rent has not been enforced.
“The process of implementing the Land User Charge commenced last year and we need to acquaint ourselves with the process so that when enumerators enter the local government, the Chairmen should give them all the necessary support to enable them succeed”, he said.
Presenting an overview of the law, Chief Executive Officer of New Wave Echo System (Consulting firm), Mr Femi Williams, revealed that the Land Use Charge is a known law covering landed property.
He said that some states have been using the law in the last 15 years to boost their revenue generation adding that there were however, some exemptions.
Williams said properties on the exemption list include, government owned properties used for public purposes, places of worship, educational institutions and healthcare facilities.
Others are properties owned by traditional rulers used for official purposes, and properties below a certain size threshold as defined by the state’s Land Use Charge Law.
In their separate remarks, the Chairmen of Igalamela-Odolu local government Hon. Cosmos Atabo and that of Lokoja Hon. Abdullahi Adamu on behalf of all the 21 Councils’ chairmen assured the Service of their support fort the implementation of the law to at the grassroots. (Ends)