Residents of Kogi State are now obligated to pay ground rent as part of a new tax initiative implemented by the state government. This announcement was made by Alhaji Sule Enehe, Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, during a stakeholders’ engagement on the Land Use Charge Law, 2024, held in Lokoja on Tuesday.
Enehe emphasized that the new law aims to consolidate various revenue streams into a unified framework, enhancing revenue generation across all local government councils in Kogi State. He noted that the Land Use Charge, also known as property tax, aims to promote data-driven decision-making and facilitate the development of smart cities, ultimately creating jobs in the state.
The Chairman highlighted ongoing tax reforms intended to streamline revenue collection and ensure fair contributions from all stakeholders for the state’s development. He stated, “The successful implementation of this law will yield enormous benefits for our local government councils and our dear state.”
While the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service has been collecting tenement rates on behalf of local governments, the collection of ground rent has not been enforced until now. Enehe urged local council Chairmen to collaborate with the revenue service to ensure the law’s effective implementation.
Mr. Femi Williams, CEO of New Wave Echo System, explained that the Land Use Charge is a well-established law that many states have utilized for revenue generation over the past fifteen years. He clarified that certain properties are exempt from this charge, including government-owned properties for public use, places of worship, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities.
Local government Chairmen, including Cosmos Atabo from Olamaboro and Abdullahi Adamu from Lokoja, assured that they would support the implementation of the law at the grassroots level.
