Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Oyo State government has announced the downward review of the mandatory tax clearance fee for the convenience of residents.
The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Emmanuel Olusegun Olayiwola, disclosed this while speaking with reporters in Ibadan on Thursday.
He stated that 11 Local Government Areas in Ibadan under the first category would be required to pay N50,600 as tax and development fees instead of the initial payment of N120,000.
The Commissioner further disclosed that residents of Oyo East Local Government, Oyo West Local Government, Atiba Local Government, Ogbomoso South Local Government, Ogbomoso North Local Government Saki West Local Government, Iseyin Local Government, Surulere Local Government, Afijio Local Government, Ibarapa Central Local Government and Ibarapa East Local Government, who are in the second cadre, would now pay N30,600.
As for those 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 in the third category, they will pay N20,600.
Mr Olayiwola used the opportunity to appeal to residents of the state to support the state government by paying “all government fees” for better development.
He charged them to serve as watchdogs by reporting any illegal activity around them, saying, “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.”
The Commissioner also announced that the government 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.
He decried the illegal development under power lines in the state, saying that some developments on pipelines, and under high-tension cables were in deviance with the state’s physical planning law.
Mr 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.
According to him, illegal developments, if not checked on time, would pose a huge threat to residents of the state, noting that the Ministry, following reports from concerned citizens of the state over the 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.
