All over the world, governments survive through taxes. The stronger a government is able to collect taxes, the stronger the government in service delivery to citizens and, conversely, the weaker a government is in tax collection, the weaker the government in providing services to its citizens. This explains why most rich and industrialized nations of the world today, which do not have natural resources as we are blessed today survive purely on taxes from citizens.
Lately, there have been some ado around the enforcement of the Land Use Charge Law in Edo State. While most citizens appreciate what the Edo State Government is doing for the entire populace in areas of infrastructural and social sector development, such citizens appreciate fully why they should comply with payment of all taxes due to them as a matter of civic responsibility. Some others, however, believe that in the face of global and even national economic meltdown, government must remain a father Christmas who must provide all their needs free of charge.
It is important to state that even in free town, there is no free lunch any more. Citizens just have to pay their taxes for government to meet their basic needs and aspirations.
The Land Use Charge Law was enacted in Edo State in 2012 and since then, citizens can attest to the fact that government has been sensitizing people on the need for affected persons to comply with the provisions of the law. Whereas some law abiding citizens affected by the law are simply complying, some others chose to play politics and misinform the rest of the public about the provisions of the law.
From its design, all through the promulgation processes at the Edo State House of Assembly, authorities concerned have consistently explained that the Law is meant for the affluent and rich who have built sprawling mansions and commercial buildings in the GRA area and major streets of Benin City and a few other major cities in the state. The law is targeted at taking a little from the rich and spreading to the poor. Government, in its wisdom has spent the past few years and months sensitizing the entire populace. They have, for the umpteenth time made it clear that the law is not for the poor whose properties are located in some densely populated parts of the State Capital and other cities, towns and villages.
But for selfish, pecuniary and political reasons, some few disgruntled members of Civil Society Organisations in Edo State who, are clearly serving some political interests, after collecting huge sums of money from their pay masters as we approach the 2016 Governorship election have gone hay wire misinforming the populace. Whereas those who know have discountenanced their messages, a few citizens may be swayed in ignorance to succumb to their perfidy. These few hungry CSO leaders feel the best way to vent their anger on government and win cheap popularity is to openly oppose the land use charge law by whipping up sentiments and commentaries unknown to law. They have chosen to stand the truth on its head by deceiving the public that the law is targeted at the poor and that the enforcement would lead to increase in house rents in the state.
Members of the public must not allow themselves to be deceived and fooled by these set of persons, some of whom are well known to our people. They are activists by the day and political jobbers by night. They go for the highest bidder as professional street boys. They have no other paid job doing order than to move around with the toga of activists while in the real sense, they are roving “area boys” or “street urchins,” simply giving bad name to professional Civil Society Organisations who are constructively engaging government on policies and programmes.
Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has uncovered plans by the PDP to desperately win the upcoming 2016 Governorship election in Edo State by hook or crook and one strategy they have thrown up is the one playing out in the campaign against the Land Use Charge Law in Edo, a law that is existing in Lagos State and citizens are complying with. The PDP, we understand, has perfected plans to politicise every action of the APC-led Government in the state and do maximum damage, politically to the fortunes of the ruling party. The PDP is desperate to win the 2016 governorship election in Edo State when our peoples Governor, Adams Oshiomhole would have completed his tenure. It is learnt on good authority that one of the PDP governorship aspirant who is anxiously itching to occupy Denis Osadebey Avenue in 2016 was the one that sponsored the CSOs campaign of calumny against the Edo State Government. This is bad politics and Edo Citizens must understand the antics of these nebulous fellows who do not mean well for the state but are desperate for their pockets and those of their families only.
The truth remains that as at today, the Land Use Charge Law is already being enforced by the Edo State Government. It behooves all citizens to comply so that they do not run fowl of the law because of the consequences of doing so.
Already, the Edo State Government has obtained a High Court order to seize the properties of sixty defaulters of the Land Use Charge Law, until the charges on the properties are paid.
To make good its promise not to allow enemies of the state get away with their misinformation, the Government has also resolved to clamp down on any landlord who hides under the banner of the Land Use Charge to increase rents arbitrarily. This is quite reassuring and citizens should appreciate the positive intensions of government.
After all, with just one more year to go, Comrade Oshiomhole can decide to play the ” I don’t care role or attitude.” He can afford to be complacent and allow all eligible tax payers escape tax payment and accumulate salaries of public officers till he leaves and let his successor come and inherit as was the case in over 24 states of the federation last May 29 hand over date. He can chose to abandon all on-going projects ( the various road projects, schools, hospitals etc) just prepare his hand over notes one year to his end date.
But our Comrade Governor has elected to be responsible, credible and alive to his social contract with Edo people to the last day in office, and even beyond. He has chosen to give his all to Edo people as promised during his electioneering for a second term. We need to give him all the encouragement and support he needs to actualise his lofty goals for Edo people, including complying with the Land Use Charge Law. I strongly believe that Edo people will remember Comrade Adams Oshiomhole long after his tenure.
• Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State.
