The governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has maintained that his administration would enforce the implementation of the Land Use Charge in order to collect all payable taxes in the state.
There had been several criticisms, including a demonstration by civil society organizations, against the recent move by state government, which comprises tenement rate, property tax and ground rent.
However, Speaking yesterday while receiving reports on tax reforms of the Edo Inland Revenue Services from the Principal Consultant, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, Oshiomhole said he had pledged to manage the state from funds generated from taxes and vowed that no individual would be exempted.
He explained that the tax policy would be run equitably, such that the more property a person owns, the bigger tax the person was expected to pay.
“This is our state; we have to manage it with the taxes that we generate. What we promised is that the taxes collected will be judiciously used in a way that will deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of people.”
“We will not tolerate a situation where one person would acquire massive expanse of land and a lot of landed property but refused to pay the Land Use Charge,” Oshiomhole stated.
Earlier, Okauru explained that the reform exercise was in phases, with the third phase as the implementation, using technology.
In other news, the governor has announced a minor reshuffle in his cabinet.
As stated by a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Peter Okhiria, the former Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mr. Isimeme Iriogbe, was moved to the Ministry of Transport.
Mr. Saturday Uwulekhue was moved from the Ministry of Transport to the Ministry of Oil and Gas, while the former Commissioner of Arts and Culture, Aanena Jemitola, was moved to the Ministry of Women Affairs.
Other commissioners affected were Abdul Oroh, from Ministry of Agriculture to Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Macdonald Obasuke, from Ministry of Commerce and Industry to Ministry of Arts & Culture.
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Washington Osifo, would oversee the Ministry of Energy & Water Resources, while, the newly sworn in commissioner, Mr. Joseph Okojie, will be in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture.