…Revises Mandatory Tax clearance fee downwards…Says land Billing system to start working in 11 LGAs soon
The
Oyo State Government has said it will commence serving traders and
residents of Ibadan and its environs contravention notices for
structures illegally erected on flood plains, blockage of waterways, and
buildings under high tension power lines.
Speaking
with pressmen in Ibadan today after a meeting with key stakeholders in
the sector, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development,
Town-Planner Emmanuel Olusegun Olayiwola decried the present State of
Physical Planning in Oyo State, adding that its has become an issue of
concern to government.
He further decried the
illegal development under power lines in the State, saying that some
developments on Pipelines, under High-tension cables, are in deviance to
the State’s Physical Planning Law.
Olayiwola
said that ultimately, illicit development activities without adherence
to planning standards in the State, gave birth to the sprawl of illegal
structures all over the State.
The Commissioner said illegal developments if not checked on time, would pose a huge threat to residents of the State.
According
to him, the Ministry, following reports from concerned citizens of the
State over erection of structures under power lines and its attendant
health hazard to the good people of the State, will swing into action
very soon.
He explained further that the State
Government would soon embark on Property Auditing, Enforcement of
planning standards and Technological innovations.
Olayiwola
also said the Oyo State Government has introduced a Lands
administration system, to manage the generation of demand notice.
He
said the Billing System has been deployed to eleven local government
town planning offices in Ibadan zone, for a test run, while the Ministry
is on the verge of eradicating manual invoice/bill.
Townplanner
Olayiwola added that the State Government has therefore constituted an
enforcement initiative that will check the excessive growth of urban
blights in the State.
“This exercise is just to ensure a sustainable, organized and livable environment for the citizens of the State”, he said.
The
Commissioner for Lands however, sternly warned members of the public
against attack and abuse on Government Officials in the course of duty.
He
also advised developers in the State to obtain approval from the Town
Planning Offices in their various local governments before embarking on
any development.
He urged all residents of the
State to continue to abide by the provisions of the Oyo State Physical
Planning policies in order to achieve the developmental plans of the
Government for the entire State.
“The Public should understand and strictly adhere to Physical Planning rules and regulations “, he added.
He also urged the public to serve as watchdogs, by reporting any illegal activity around them.
“If
you see something, say something because Government officials cannot
cover every area of the State, so when you see any illegal development/
structures in any place within the State,please inform the appropriate
agency of Government”, he said.
“They should
ensure all Government fees are paid accordingly. In order to achieve
this, the Government has acceded to the yearnings of the public by
approving a revised tax regime for planning approvals”.
In
connection to this, Mr. Olayiwola announced that the Oyo State
Government has revised the mandatory tax clearance fee downward for the
convenience of residents.
He hinted that the 11
Local Government Areas in Ibadan fall under the first category, who
would pay N50, 600 as tax and development fees, rather than the initial
payment of N 120, 000.
In the second category
are residents in Oyo East Local Government, Oyo West Local Government,
Atiba Local Government, Ogbomoso South Local Government, Ogbomoso North
Local Government Saki West Local Government.
Others
in the second category are Iseyin Local Government, Surulere Local
Government, Afijio Local Government, Ibarapa Central Local Government
and Ibarapa East Local Government, who would pay N 30, 600 as Tax and
development fees.
The third category of
taxpayers are those residing in Orire Local Government, Ogooluwa Local
Government, Itesiwaju Local Government Iwajowa Local Government, Ibarapa
North Local Government, Orelope Local Government, Kajola Local
Government, Atisbo Local Government, Olorunsogo Local Government, Irepo
Local Government and Saki East Local Government. He added that they
would pay the sum of 20, 600 as tax and development fees.
The
Commissioner included in his statement that the State Government will
further strengthen orderly development that would promote Socio-economic
growth, safety and security of lives and properties, aesthetics and
wellness of the citizens and inhabitants of the State.
The
meeting was attended by the SSA on Lands, Hon Tilewa Folami; Chairman,
Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Femi Awakan; the Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs.
Mofoluwake Adebiyi and the Directors of Townplanning in all 33 Local
governments of the State.
E-signed:Hon. Wasiu Olatubosun, Ph.D.,
Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism.