By correspondent in Lokoja.
Gov. Ododo launches infrastructure maintenance levy.
Solicits for cooperation of road users to ensure success.
The Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, on Monday in Lokoja, launched infrastructure maintenance levy,IML, with solicit on principal Stakeholders in the exercise to cooperate the government for the success of the project
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of Kogi state, Dr.Folashade Ayoade Arike, Ododo described IML as a principle item in the state government revenue collection profile in the state,backed by the law.
He noted that while neighboring states such kwara,Edo,Osun and Anambra were making huge success of IML, kogi state had not been able to get it right since 2017 when it established Internally Generating Revenue Service.
According to him, the flag off of the project marked the commencement of the collection of IML, across the state,using technology.
Ododo said the success of IML would enable his administration to enhance revenue and deliver good governance to the citizens.
He, therefore,directed all principal stakeholders of the transport unions,their members and other stakeholders to cooperate fully with the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, KGIRS in the implementation IML.
The governor,who also solicited the support of the Stakeholders for the consultant, charged with the responsibility of implementing IML, however warned that the state government would not condone any attempt, by any person or group to obstruct the project.
In her good will message,Arike promised that the state government would use money generated from IML judiciously to repair road and other infrastructure with a view to bringing dividends of democracy to the people.
The Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, said that IML was first flagged off in 2017 but manually collected.
“This item of revenue came into existence in the law of the state when the former governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello signed the harmonization bill signed into law in 2017,” Enehe recalled..
According to him, organizing this type of collection had been a challenge, adding that experience showed that the manual nature in which IML was been operated was only helping some individuals many of who either duplicated or fake receipts.
Enehe added that when KGIRS under studied the matter up, it discovered that neighboring states were making headway in the implementation of their IML, because they automated their process.
He noted with delight with the automated nature of such in kogi,commercial drivers, kekenapep and commercial motorcycle riders,who comply would receive their tax clearance free at the end of the year.
Representatives of National Union of Road Transport Workers,NARTO,TOAN among others, pledged their cooperation to the success of the project but called for “human face” in its implementation.
In an interview with journalists at the end of the event, the KGIRS boss assured commercial drivers that IML would be implemented with “human face” but called on them to fulfill their civic responsibility by complying with the law.
Dr.Folashade Ayoade Arike, Secretary to the government of kogi state represented the governor at the occasion.
According experts in tax administration, an infrastructure maintenance levy is a type of fee or tax imposed by governments or local authorities to fund the upkeep, repair, and improvement of public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water systems, and public buildings.
They add that it is typically collected periodically (monthly, quarterly, or annually) from property owners or residents within a specified jurisdiction.
The levy revenue is earmarked specifically for maintaining existing infrastructure rather than funding new construction projects. This mechanism ensures that essential public amenities remain in good condition and continue to serve the community effectively over time.
