By Muhammad Mukhtar Idris.
The Executive Chairman of Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, has disclosed that His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, has unveiled plans to transform the State into smart cities through the effective administration of the Land Use Charge. This initiative aims to urbanise rural areas, which will consequently promote development and improve quality of life for residents.
According to the Chairman of the Revenue Service at the statewide sensitization tour on Land Use Charge in Kabba, the West Senatorial District of the State, the government will automate property documentation to facilitate accurate assessment of property values for taxation purposes. This will enable the identification and registration of property, allocation of land for government projects, and delivery of social amenities.
The Chairman, who was ably represented by the Director of the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Hajia Hassana E. Salawu, emphasised the benefits of property documentation which includes; Accurate assessment of property values for taxation purposes, Identification and registration of property in the State, Allocation of land for government projects and social amenities, Employment opportunities for enumerators from the District, and Creation of a reliable database on the property makeup of the State to inform decision-making.
The tax obligation section of the law focuses on property used for lease and commercial purposes, while exempting; Property owned and occupied by religious bodies for public worship or religious education, Public cemeteries and burial grounds, Non-profit educational institutions and public libraries, Palaces of recognised traditional rulers, Community property like town-halls used for community meetings, Property owned and occupied by pensioners, Partial reliefs for physically challenged individuals and for properties used for charitable purposes.
Recall only last week, the Chairman of the Revenue Service, Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, made similar pronouncement while meeting with critical stakeholders in the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The Chairman stated further that 40% of the tax collected will be allocated to the Local Governments, while the remaining 60% will be allocated to the State Government. He emphasised that the revenue generated will be used for infrastructure development, maintenance of the environment, and provision of adequate security.
The statewide sensitisation tour, which commenced on July 1, 2025, aims to educate stakeholders on the Land Use Charge law and promote compliance with the enumeration process.
The Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, has expressed appreciation for the sensitisation module and urged for transparency in the administration of the Land Use Charge.
