Connect with us

Development

Kaduna Govt Justifies Why Every Adult Should Pay N1,000 Development Levy

The Executive Chairman, Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Dr. Zaid Abubakar, on Thursday, said that 70 per cent of development levy collected from adults in a community would be used to finance development projects in that community.

Abubakar made the disclosure in Kaduna while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the validation meeting on the State Tax Perception Survey, organised by Tax Justice Network.

Abubakar said that the plan, if approved by the State Executive Council, would entrench tax for service, stir competition and promote tax compliance among communities in the state

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), KADIRS had in November 2020, announced plans to begin the collection of N1,000 annual development levy from all adults in the State in 2021.

Abubakar stated that the levy was in line with the provision of Section 9 (2) of the Kaduna State Tax Codification and Consolidation Law, 2020.

He said that all adults including those who pay Personal Income Tax must pay the compulsory Economic Development Levy by virtue of the law.

Abubakar noted that the service would leverage on traditional institutions to collect the levy because of their familiarity with people in their domain.

He said that ward heads, village heads, district heads and the higher chiefs would play vital role in the collection of the levy, which would be done from house to house and community to community.

“The way it is going to work is that 70 per cent of what we collected from each community or cluster will be used to finance developmental projects in the community or the clusters.

“So, if for example community A with a population of 10,000 residents collected N20,000 at the end of the year, the community will see infrastructural development commensurate with the amount it contributed.

“If community B with a population of 60,000 residents collected N50,000, the community will see higher investment in terms of infrastructure and other developmental projects.

“This is a way of giving back to the communities in the spirit of tax for service that will engender competition and a tax compliance community in the long run,” he said.

Dr Saied Tafida, Member, Tax Justice Network Steering Committee, had stated that the goal of the survey was to understand the challenges faced by citizens regarding the several tax reforms undertaken in the state and broaden conversation on domestic resource mobilisation.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Development

Abiodun Promises More Infrastructural Development, Commissions Siun-Owode Road

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Yemi Sanusi; a member of the House of Representatives, Olumide Osoba; Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Razaq; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his Deputy, Engr. (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele and the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon Oludaisi Elemide, during the commissioning of the 6km Siun-Owode Road in Obafemi Owode Local Government area of Ogun State on Thursday.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun on Thursday said his government will continue with its infrastructural drive, especially in the area of road construction as a catalyst for economic growth and development.

Abiodun spoke at the commissioning of the six kilometres (first phase) of the Siun-Owode-Ofada road in the Obafemi Owode Local Government of the state.

Speaking at the event, which was attended by the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahaman AbdulRasak, Governor Abiodun emphasized the importance of road construction in the overall development of the state.

The governor described the newly rehabilitated road as an alternative to the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, adding that it would also impact positively on the socio-economic development of communities along the road.

He said the construction of the road was a testimony to the dedication to strategic and methodical development of infrastructure across the state to enhance the socio-economic landscape as enshrined in the “Building our Future Together” agenda of his administration.

“The road represents a vital link between communities to boost local economies and connect all those coming from Abeokuta to Siun, Owode up to Mowe. This local government is where people work in Lagos but reside and commune daily.

“The road is an alternative for people from Abeokuta to Lagos. It will significantly impact the socio-economy development of the state,” the governor noted.

He added that the road is the first to be commissioned this year, just as the Mowe-Ofada road has been completed, adding that his administration would soon commissioned more roads including the Ilaro -Owode road and the Gateway International Cargo Airport at Ilisan.

Governor Abiodun listed Obantoko, Gbonogun, Ikorita Meje-Aderinde-Olokotutu, Olomore-Sanni, Somorin- Kemta-Idi-Aba, Panseke-Adigbe as well as the Olusegun Osoba-Toyin- Agbado as some of the roads that have been attended to in Ogun Central Senatorial District, even as he pledged that more roads would be put in good shape soon.

Abiodun who spoke on why some road projects were delayed, blaming the development on the high price of construction materials.

He said: “We have had a slow down on construction due to the situation of things in the country in the last few months which has not allowed for objective pricing of construction materials.

“But for us, construction represents a lot. Besides the fact that road construction allows for movement of goods, services, and people, the construction industry is the largest employer of labour. So, we will continue to prioritize construction.

“We have harvested priority roads in each local government area. We will begin our reconstruction all over again as a result of the price stability. Our contractors will go back to sites. All the roads harvested during our last town hall meetings, you will begin to see construction on the roads.”

He called on the people to take ownership of the road and other infrastructure provided by the government by protecting them as they were commonwealth and taxes were used in providing them.

The Kwara State Governor, who is also the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak, praised Governor Abiodun for the infrastructural revolution going on in the state.

According to him, the Abiodun-led administration has judiciously invested the commonwealth of the people.

He said he has visited other states in the country but was impressed with the level of development in Ogun State.

He called on his colleagues from other parts of the country to take a cue from Ogun State by providing their people with the needed infrastructure to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

The Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Shuaib Afolabi Salis, recalled that the road was pencilled down for reconstruction in 2022 and expressed appreciation to the governor, for not abandoning the road like his predecessors.

He called on the people to make good use of the road as it belongs to them.

The state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Yemi Sanusi, described the road as historic to the Egba people because of its interconnectivity to various communities and its importance to the commercial activities in the communities along the road.

The Chairman, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Hon. Adesina Ogunsola appreciated the state government for reconstructing the road and for providing a 7.5 KVA transformer to Owode to restore power to the town.

In his welcome address, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya said the road, which was in bad shape for many years, was reconstructed with a standard drainage system to conform with the federal government’s specification for highways.

The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including the Deputy Dovernor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, former deputy governors, members of the National and State Assemblies, traditional rulers, party stalwarts, among others.

Continue Reading

Development

Ogun’s N5bn Intervention Palliative Impacting Lives Of Residents – Akinmade

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun

The N5 billion Ogun State Intervention Palliative meant to cushion the impact of the current economic challenges in the country is having direct impacts on the people of the Gateway State.

This was stated on Monday by the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media and Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, while speaking on an OGTV Current Affairs Program, The RoundTable.

He said that through targeted interventions, the government aims to address the current economic challenges by implementing a series of phased initiatives aimed at alleviating these burdens.

Governor Abiodun had recently announced N5 billion intervention funds to cushion the effect of the rising cost of living and inflation in the state.

The grant, according to him, is planned to be shared as palliatives to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

Governor Abiodun during a press conference held in Abeokuta said his administration acknowledges the current hardship in the country, occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal and the concerns raised from different quarters regarding the rising food prices and shortages, coupled with the depreciation of the Naira.

While expressing a sense of emotions, Governor Abiodun noted that proactive measures to alleviate the impact of the challenges to guarantee the welfare, well-being and wellness of the residents of the state in this difficult time will be implemented

Akinmade said: “Ogun is the first state to implement the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Bus initiative, to take care of transportation challenges. The buses are currently positioned on strategic routes in the state where people are meant to pay a token fee to cover a reasonable distance.

“Governor Abiodun has initiated policies with direct impacts on the people. Evidence is the ongoing Educash programme that is planned to provide a one-off N10,000 education support grant for 100,000 pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools. The ongoing exercise is done in a transparent manner such that the beneficiaries have been full of appreciation of the gesture coming from the state government.”

According to Hon. Akinmade, 50,000 students of Ogun State origin in tertiary institutions across the country have been captured as part of the planned disbursements of N50,000 grant to each of them.

The Special Adviser added that the administration of Governor Abiodun is also providing health insurance cover for over 70,000 beneficiaries to include pregnant women, children, the elderly, market women, and other members of the informal sector.

“Pregnant women, under the Ibidero Scheme, would also be provided free pre-natal care, an additional N5,000 per birth and free post-natal care in the State Hospitals and Primary Health Care Centres,” he said.

Akinmade noted that provision would be made for food palliatives to include rice and other items for about 300,000 households across the state.

“The state government has started offsetting the backlog of inherited deductions. To this end, the government has immediately committed N500 million monthly payments towards outstanding deductions.

“It is noteworthy that we have continued to pay N10,000 transport allowance to all civil servants in the state for the last eight months,” Hon. Akinmade submitted.

Continue Reading

Business

FG Grants 200 Exhibitors At Ogun MSME Clinics N150,000 Cash Reward …additional 200 shop owners at Adire market to get N100,000 each

L-R: Minister of State for the Environment, Dr. Kunle Salako; Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; the Senator, representing Ogun Centra at the National Assembly, Shuaibu Salisu, and his Ogun West counterpart, Olamilekan Adeola at the 2nd Expanded National MSME Clinics and the Commissioning of Ogun MSME Fashion Hub/Modern Adire Shared Facility in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday.

The Federal Government has announced a N150,000 cash reward for every exhibitor at the 2nd edition of the national Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clinic.

A grant of N100,000 will also be given to over 200 owners of new stores at the Modern Adire Shared Facility at the Adire International Market, Asero, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima disclosed this on Tuesday at the 2nd Extended National MSME Clinics, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

He further disclosed that the national Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clinic would serve as a bridge between the people and the government, adding that the clinics would serve as lifelines for enterprises in the state and the country as a whole.

The national MSME clinic serves as a bridge between the people and the government, it is our desire to bring the government in close proximity with the people by placing all regulatory agencies under one group.

He said: “Each exhibitor present at the clinic today stands to gain from our MSME instant grant of N150,000 each, courtesy of our esteemed private sector and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I hereby announce that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that almost 200 new applications within this market be granted free of charge to small business traders for one year and each of them should enjoy a grant of N100,000.”

Senator Shettima noted that Ogun State is not only the industrial powerhouse of the nation but a committed supporter of the federal government’s efforts to support enterprises and empowerment.

As the keeper of its words, the federal government has transversed the length and breadth of the country to fulfill its pledge to the people across diverse sectors, he said.

He said his coming to Ogun State signifies the need to support businesses and transform ideas into commercially viable ventures, saying the 2nd phase of the Expanded SMSME Clinics is a strategic intervention to fortify the foundation of small businesses, which commenced in Benue State early this year.

“The clinics serve as a link between the people and government. Small Businesses are now afforded platforms to present their business challenges, and seek timely intervention of monetary agencies all in an attempt to eliminate the task of navigating from one agency to another in their efforts to build the next unicorn out of Africa,” Shettima said.

The Vice President emphasized that the clinics would serve as a lifeline for enterprises as it would offer immediate financial support to the exhibitors and provide small businesses the opportunity to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission and get their Certificates within a day.

Senator Shettima thanked Ogun State and the governor for their support to the federal government to bring the nation’s economy back on track.

Also speaking, the host governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said his administration has launched the Small and Medium Enterprises Industrial Land Acquisition Scheme (SILAS), stating that the scheme is a 1,000 Hectares Industrial hub provided with needed amenities like good roads, power, among others.

“The SME park is aimed at providing incentives to SMEs way below the market rate. There will be many incentives through industrial ownership and accelerated processing of their CoO which can be used as collateral for further financing.

“Other benefits of the park will include rebates on taxes and levies such as Land Use charges, building permits, land processing fees, etc. This park will cover agro-allied, agro-processing, home and personal care building materials and chemicals, food processing,” the governor said.

To support the federal government in repositioning the nation’s economy, Governor Abiodun said the State would offer incentives like conditional grants of N100,000 to 10,000 MSMSE, N500,000 given to 2,000 SMEs, and N50,000 to 5,000 market women in the State.

Special Adviser to the Vice President on Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Tola Adekunle Johnson, acknowledged the working relationship between the federal and the state governments, staying at the clinics was a means to create jobs for the people, especially the youth, naming Ogun and Benue as the two states to benefit from the programme so far.

In his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, maintained that the clinics were meant to address the challenges facing small and medium enterprises in the state to find solutions to them, calling on participants to leverage on the various issues that would be treated to grow their businesses.

The Vice President had earlier commissioned the Modern Adire Shared Facility at Adire International Market Asero and the National MSME Clinics, Ultra-Modern Fashion Hub, Ajebo Road all in Abeokuta.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending