Osun Assembly Calls For Compliance On Land Use Charge

By Israel Afolabi

The State of Osun House of Assembly has called for due compliance from stakeholders with the Land Use Charge Law 2015 as passed by the state legislature.

Chairman, House Committee on Land, Physical and Urban Development, Hon. Nurein Adebisi made the call on Thursday at an interactive meeting with officials of the Ministry of Finance and relevant stakeholders at the state Assembly, Osogbo.

Adebisi said the meeting was convened based on the report the committee received on land use charge bill recently passed by the house and to know the barriers that hinder revenue generation.

According to him, “we notice low performance of revenue personnels and poor handling of the revenue in the state and that there is still the need to review some sections of the law”, he added.

He urged the revenue personnels to be practical and realistic in their approach, so as to get the required results.

The lawmaker, therefore, called for critical review of engagement of consultants for the Land Use Charge and due compliance with the provision of the law as passed by the House of Assembly in 2015.

In her contribution, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Adebimpe Ogunlumade who is handling thew land use charge projects in the state complained of fund as a major setback and poor handling of the job by revenue personnel.

She confirmed that the appointment of some consultants were based on due processes because they are familiar with the project in the state.

According to her, “we have agreed to choose the best among them during their engagement, because their appointment is not permanent”.

“There is going to be a needful substitution for those who are not ready to work”, she added.

She also complained about all the independent petrol marketers, private schools and hoteliers that are not cooperating with revenue officials.

However, some consultants who spoke at the meeting, Sanusi Raheem and Olukayode Olalekan lamented over the non-cooperation with revenue marshals in the state.

In their separate remarks, members of the committee urged the people to change their way of doing things, adding that excuses would no longer be tolerated in revenue collection in the state again.