KGIRS seeks stakeholders’ support for implementation of land use charge

The Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, has solicited the collaboration of local government chairmen and other critical stakeholders for the implementation of the Land Use Charge Law, 2024, to boost the state’s revenue generation.

Enehe made the call on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ engagement on the implementation of the Land Use Charge Law, 2024, held at the KGIRS office in Lokoja.

Highlighting the significance of the law, the KGIRS Chairman stated that it harmonizes all revenue accruals into one cohesive framework, enhancing revenue generation for all local government councils in Kogi State.

He added that the law, also referred to as the Land Use Charge or property tax, when fully implemented, could foster data-driven decision-making, pave the way for the development of smart cities, and create job opportunities in the state.

Speaking further, Enehe said that in line with the ongoing tax reforms, the law aims to streamline revenue collection, promote transparency, and ensure that all stakeholders contribute their fair share towards the development of Kogi State.

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“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 tenement rates on behalf of the local government, but the collection of ground rent has not been enforced.

“The process of implementing the Land Use Charge commenced last year, and we need to familiarize ourselves with the process so that when enumerators enter the local government areas, the chairmen will provide them with the necessary support to ensure their success,” he said.

The Chairman urged the council chairmen to collaborate with KGIRS in successfully implementing the law, noting that stakeholders can unlock the vast potential within the state and create a brighter future for its citizens.

Giving an overview of the law and its numerous benefits to the state, the Chief Executive Officer of New Wave Echo System, Mr. Femi Williams, revealed that the Land Use Charge is an established law covering landed property, adding that some states have been using it for the past fifteen years to boost their revenue generation.

Listing individuals exempted from the 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 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 Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government, Hon. Cosmos Atabo, and the Chairman of Lokoja, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu, assured that the chairmen of the 21 local government areas in the state would provide their full support to ensure the successful implementation of the law at the grassroots level.