Govt kick off aggressive revenue drive through taxation

The Oyo State Government has commenced an aggressive revenue drive to shore up its dwindling revenue through taxation of businesses, properties and land use charges.

Mr Toye Arulogun, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, told newsmen on Wednesday that the evaluation and collection of property tax would commence from the governor’s private residence.

He said that Gov. Abiola Ajimobi had given members of the State Executive Council up to July 15 to pay property tax on their private buildings.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Arulogun was accompanied by Mr Biyi Oloko, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Revenue.

Also present was Mr Bicci Alli, a consultant on internal revenue generation and Dr Bashir Olanrewaju, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information.

NAN also reports that Ajimobi had at several fora said that government would start collecting property tax and other levies as part of efforts to boost the revenue base of the state.

Arulogun assured residents of the ministry’s readiness to embark on door-to-door advocacy and enlightenment campaign to sensitise members of the public on the new tax and payment regime.

``The State Executive Council resolved during Wednesday’s meeting that the state will embark on an aggressive revenue drive as a result of the dwindling allocation to the state from the Federation Account.

``Government has decided that properties located within the state must be taxed and it will start with the personal house of the governor.

`` Members of the state executive have been given up to July 15 to pay for theirs,’’ he said.

He added that any member of the State Executive Council whose tax had not been paid up to date would have such money deducted from source before other members of the public were brought into the tax net.

``There will be re-certification programme of landed properties across the state called Land Use Charge to boost the state’s financial base.

``While doing this, people should be assured of smooth payment as Point of Service (POS) machines are already in all our offices for easy payment.

``We are using these methods to guard against leakages and it would engender electronic payment system that makes cashless transaction easier,’’ he said.

Oloko explained that all property in the state had been enumerated and payment of taxes would be enforced through the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy, adding that tax offices had been opened across the 33 local government councils in the state.

Alli, on his part, stressed that all withholding taxes, rates and levies relating to business transactions must be promptly paid into government coffers.

He explained that the revenue board had made taxes and allied payments easier as those who are self-employed would have their taxes statutorily deducted and paid to government coffers.

The consultant said that withholding tax on contracts and levies on businesses must be paid as at when due.