A new law in Kogi state will require residents to pay ground rent as part of the taxes collected by the state government.
This was made public by the Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, Alhaji Sule Enehe.
He stated this during a stakeholders’ engagement on the implementation of the Land Use Charge Law, 2024, held at the KGIRS office in Lokoja on Tuesday.
Highlighting the significance of the law, Enehe stated that it harmonises all revenue accruals into a single framework to enhance revenue generation across all local government councils in Kogi State.
He added that the Land Use Charge, which can also be referred to as a property tax, when fully implemented, will foster data-driven decision-making, pave the way for the development of smart cities, and create jobs in the state.
Speaking further, Enehe explained that, in line with ongoing tax reforms, the law aims to streamline revenue collection, promote transparency, and ensure that all stakeholders contribute their fair share to 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 our dear state at large.
“KGIRS has been collecting tenement rates on behalf of local governments, but ground rent collection has not been enforced.
“The process of implementing the Land Use Charge began last year, and we need to familiarise ourselves with the process so that when enumerators visit the local governments, the Chairmen can provide them with the necessary support to ensure success,” he said.
The Chairman urged the council Chairmen to collaborate with KGIRS in ensuring the successful implementation of the law, noting that stakeholders can unlock the state’s vast potential and create a brighter future for citizens.
Providing an overview of the law and its benefits to the state, the Chief Executive Officer of New Wave Echo System, Mr Femi Williams, explained that the Land Use Charge is a well-established law covering landed property. He noted that some states have been using the law for the past fifteen years to boost revenue generation.
Listing individuals exempted from land use charge in Kogi state, Mr Williams mentioned
government-owned properties used for public purposes, places of worship, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, 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 separate remarks, the Chairman of Olamaboro local government, Cosmos Atabo and that of Lokoja, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu, assured that the Chairmen of the 21 local government areas of the state would support the implementation of the law at the grassroots.
