By: Ade Phillips
Ekiti State Government has expressed the need by the residents to perform their civic responsibilities, by complying with the government directives in the payment of all taxes.
Stating this in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, while urging the Ekiti residents to comply with the implementation of the Land Use Charge policy embarked on by the government, reiterated the commitment of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, to the development of the state and welfare of residents.
Olatunbosun described Oyebanji’s administration as one, focused on economic development, adding that it takes necessary policy measures to accomplish its goal of making the state prosper.
According to him, the planned implementation of the Land Use Charge law slated to begin early next year was part of efforts of the administration to balance growth and social development, noting that the development would enable the government to utilise the state resources and influence to tackle poverty and expand economic opportunities.
The Commissioner made it known that Governor Oyebanji had established the genuineness of the commitment of his administration, to proper management of the state resources and rapid development of the state, as well as the general well-being of the people.
Therefore, Olatunbosun said it would therefore not be difficult for taxpayers to comply with the LUC.
According to him, apart from improving the Internally Generated Revenue of Ekiti State, LUC which was passed into law on October 17, 2023, would harmonise taxes and make it easier for people to pay tax.
Olatunbosun further noted that the LUC was a consolidation of ground rent, tenement rate and neighbourhood improvement levy, stressing that the harmonization would mean that the taxpayers would be relieved of having to pay tax piecemeal to different levels of government and the awkwardness of being answerable to several authorities at the same time.
The commissioner further appealed to the taxpayers, to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the government to perform their civic responsibilities without pressure.
However, he explained that the system is tailored according to world global best practices, adding that no country worth its salt will allow tax evasion.
“Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service was borne out of the need to generate funds for the socio-economic development of Ekiti State and Land Use Charge is an Ekiti State Property Tax backed by the Ekiti State Land Use Charge Law, Law No 3 of 2013.
“LUC is a consolidation of ground rent, tenement rate and neighbourhood improvement levy.
” If the state must develop, then all of us must take responsibility and pay our taxes,” he said.
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