EDO STATE GOVERNMENT LIED ON LAND USE CHARGE

The questions you may ask yourself are; why has the government not been able to stop community youths from collecting all manner of levies from property developers? Why has the government not been able to rescue commercial bus/taxi drivers from illegal ticketing? Why has it not saved the market women from all manner of illegal ticketing in our various markets?

By Osaze Prince Edigin

They said they want to take from the rich, that the poor will not be affected. They said owners of 50ft x 100ft landed property will not pay; that the matter is not in court. They said they want to use it to change Edo state and that Civil Society is misleading the people.

These, among others have been the lies the state government have been telling Edo people on the Land Use Charge Law.

The Edo Civil Society Organizations, an apolitical movement will stop at nothing but to always educate, enlighten and inform the people on the true position of things because we believe a large number of our people seldom have the luxury of time to scrutinize or understand government’s intention on any matter.

We are also aware of individuals who are willing to sell off the country as long as they benefit from such. The civil society movement is there to act as the interface between the government and the people and we will continually do that no matter whose Ox is gored.

Let us quickly attempt to puncture the lies one after the other as enumerated above which the state government has been trying to tell Edo people about the Land Use Charge Law which has created a lot of controversy between the government and the civil society movement in Edo state.

1. THEY WANT TO TAKE FROM THE RICH:
This has been one of the most ridiculous excuses the state government has sought, to deceive the gullible in the society; how is it possible to take from the rich in Nigeria when 70% to 80% of wealthy Nigerians and their cronies got their wealth from politics?

It will also interest you to know that the rich always evade tax with impunity because they form the largest bulk of people that influence government policies; they finance political parties and politicians, they are either the politicians or they have friends that occupy high political positions in the state.

With a phone call, they are exempted and the poor that knows nobody are forced to pay for the rich. Another candid question I also want us to ask ourselves is what system of economy does Nigeria operate? Is it Communism, Socialism or Capitalism?

The answer to this will inform you that, taking from the rich is very much still impossible for now in Nigeria. It will also surprise you that, a particular wealthy man in Benin that the government, through Philip Shaibu said is their reason for the Land Use Charge Law in 2012 is exempted by the provisions of that Law. Putting all these together would reveal that, Edo state government cannot take from the rich as it has assured the people.

2. THE POOR WILL NOT BE AFFECTED:
If you are lazy and poor and you think the Land Use Charge will not affect you as assured by the state government, you had better wake up from your sleep.

Any taxation policy always has its ripple effect on the system or society. The poor in this context may mean those who do not have their personal house or building, they are the tenants who pay rents to the rich.

In your widest dream, you think your Landlord will take part of the rent you paid him/her to pay the Land Use Charge? By now your response would have answered how it will surely affect you.

Do you also think when commercial buildings are charged as high as N400, 000, they will not in turn increase their cost of goods and services?

Of course, you know how it works in a country where there is no price control. If you also believe the government will have the political will to clamp down on Landlords who arbitrary increase their rent, you will be the most disappointed.

The questions you may ask yourself are; why has the government not been able to stop community youths from collecting all manner of levies from property developers? Why has the government not been able to rescue commercial bus/taxi drivers from illegal ticketing? Why has it not saved the market women from all manner of illegal ticketing in our various markets?

If you believe the government will suddenly come to your rescue when your Landlord slams an increased rent on you, you must have slept in Nigeria and woken up in America.

3. 50FT X 100FT WILL NOT PAY:
When a Law was hurriedly passed without considering the after effect the government starts to modify it through media channels. The Land Use Charge never exempted 50ft by 100ft expressly. It states that, a 100ft x 100ft maximum in a ‘non choice area’ of an urban area is exempted; same is applicable to rural settings.

Now, the question you should be asking is this, how do we determine a ‘non choice area’? The implication of this is that, when you have 50ft x100ft in a supposed choice area, you will pay the Land Use Charge.

And if you have 100ft by 150ft in a ‘non choice area’ you will still pay the Land Use Charge. Which Law was the government quoting that 50ft by 100ft plots are exempted?

4. THE MATTER IS NOT IN COURT:
We have heard the state government repeatedly say, is they are not aware that the matter is in any court; this is similar to the excuse given by the state government when UNIBEN staff quarters were demolished by the administration.

For the avoidance of doubt, I will upload the court documents once again, for further information, the case has been in the State High Court, Abudu since 2013 and the state government has appeared for defense.

5. THEY WANT TO USE IT TO CHANGE EDO STATE:
It is very unfortunate that the people no longer trust the government. For 55 years, Nigerians have been passing through harrowing times in the hand of their leaders, they have not enjoyed any single thing citizens enjoy from their government, they have been subjected to all manner of levies, taxes and charges without commensurate benefit from the government not even motor-able roads, electricity, pipe borne water, social security, security among others.

For 7 years running, Edo state government has not been able to deliver on the promises to the people and with few months to winding up of administration is it the Land Use Charge that will be the magic wand that will transform Edo to London?

The reason people have refused to pay certain taxes is simply because the people have not been able to benefit from what is taken from them as taxes and levies and have also lost confidence in the government’s genuine intention to bring the expected development and human capacity building to the people.

6. CIVIL SOCIETY IS MISLEADING THE PEOPLE:
The civil society have been accused by the state government of giving the people wrong information. I wonder why on earth the civil society will be doing that, they are not interested in any political position neither are they contesting the 2016 election.

I think what the government should bother itself with is to debunk all the positions the civil society has advanced since 2012 concerning the Land Use Charge.

When a government and its supporters could no longer deceive the gullible due to the awareness made available by the civil society, they resort to all manners of blackmail and name calling, even most times they accuse the civil society of being sponsored by the opposition party.

Whether the civil society is being accused of sponsorship by the opposition party or not does not remove the truth in the matter which ultimately will be for the benefit of the masses and the state by extension.

Below are the court documents referred to above.