Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta has inaugurated a task force on House to House Ground Rent Collection in Asaba.
At the inauguration ceremony, Uduaghan said that the purpose of the task force was to boost revenue accruing to the state.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Macaulay Ovuozuorie, said that revenue was the bedrock on which electoral promises could be realised.
He said that revenue was also an enabling factor in the provision of public facilities, adding that taxation was the principal source of government’s revenue.
According to him, the prosperity of the state and citizens depends greatly on the nature of revenue and the efficiency of collection.
“Our tax policy is to significantly improve quality of life by maximising revenue potential without imposing excessive burden on citizens.
Uduaghan also said that the state was focusing on improving the level of property tax compliance as well as constant review of database to ensure that the records were in compliance with the actual number of land assets.
The governor stressed the need for the state to continue to improve on its database, adding that property by nature was dynamic.
Uduaghan explained that property changed from time to time, especially as it related to ownership.
According to him, the reasons for the change of property from time to time are basically due to varying property usage, ownership, renovation, demolition as well as erection of new buildings.
He, however, advised residents of the state to cooperate with the committee and take advantage of the inauguration of the committee to clarify, resolve and get information on whatever the were not sure about.
“In order to create a common prosperity for the benefit of all Deltans, we need to pay our taxes voluntarily and fully as at when due,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Patrick Ferife, said that ownership of land had been a major concern in the state.
Ferife said that in order to address the challenge, the state had enacted the Land Use Act of 1978.
He, however, noted that the committee was charged with the responsibility to collect and pay into government coffers all ground rents paid and payable by landlords in the state.
Ferife said that the ground rent was calculated, based on fixed amount of naira per square metre.
Members of the committee include Frank Nwugo, who is the Chairman, Alex Moeteke, Secretary and Paul Udomor member.
