Edo State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Ach. Francis Evbuomwan addressing stakeholders on Land Use Charge Law.
The Edo State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Arch Francis Evboumwan has said the Land Use Charge was aimed at broadening the government’s revenue base in other to grow its tax basket, optimize and to further improve its efficiency.
The Housing and Urban Development Commissioner stated this during the one-day stakeholders enlightenment/sensitization workshop on the Land Use Charge held at the Sunny Okundia Training School, EIRS Corporate Headquarters in Benin City.
He said the Land Use Charge was a consolidation of all land based rates and charges payable in Edo State, adding that it was signed into law in 2012 and amended in 2013.
The Commissioner who noted that the valuation of property was based on the land size, building size, location and property usage also informed that residences in densely populated areas and places of worship were exempted except those not approved by government.
He highlighted some of the challenges of the Land Use Charge to include: data management, lack of investment in information system/other relevant technologies by previous administration, apathy of citizens to tax payment as well as massive violation of land/town planning law.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Review Committee, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, stated that all land related taxes were fused into the Land Use Charge with the purpose of easing collection and enhancing efficiency.
He said since it was a consensus that people should pay tax, the one day interactive stakeholders workshop became imperative because of the need to discuss with stakeholders on the significance of the Land Use Charge.
Also, the Executive Chairman, of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service Chief Oseni Elamah viewed taxation as the only tool of government to facilitate governance and payment of pensions.
