COMMUNIQUÉ ADDRESSING “LAND USE ACT DECREE” IN EKITI STATE
Prepared by: Mature Minds Community
The Land Use Act Decree is one of the adopted means of tax collection used by the government from its citizens. Tax payments are of different categories and government has different means of collecting it – One of such is the one deducted automatically from civil servant’s salary while the other is through Land Use Act Decree, that is, through shops and from companies.
It’s the right of the government to levy its citizens as regards tax and it’s the citizens’ right to pay their taxes. On this basis, it is the right of the citizens to challenge the government when they failed to perform to expectations.
*CHALLENGES FACED BY CITIZENS FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS*
In the process of collecting taxes from the citizens, series of challenges were encountered from the tax collectors. This includes:
1. There is no adequate orientation and dissemination of information as regards tax payment.
2. Government officials on tax collection leverage on the exercise to enter into citizens’ compounds without notice – Taking the pictures of the house without prior notification of the owner.
3. They charge citizens at their convenience unlike the civil servants who are aware of the amount levied on monthly or yearly basis. However, the citizens are deprived of this opportunity, as such, the officials leveraged on it to extort the citizens.
4. Shops, companies and houses were sealed from government officials without prior notification as regards tax payment, of which the payers have no idea of the levied amount and where to direct the payment.
*SOLUTIONS AND BENEFITS OF TAX PAYMENT ON GOVERNMENT AND THE CITIZENS*
To ameliorate the challenges and to better serve both government and citizens on tax payment, the following were suggested:
1. There should be adequate sensitisation and orientation about tax payment from government to the masses.
2. The ratio of tax payment on individuals should be placed on the capacity of their house, shop and company.
3. Awareness are to be made to relevant towns, villages and street prior to when the operation (of tax collection) will be carried out, to avoid undue controversies.
4. Identifications for due recognition are to be made through government officials from constituted ministry to avoid mix up of payment.
