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The Enugu State Internal Revenue Service has announced that it will enforce the payment of land use charges on 800,000 houses in the state, including ancestral homes in various communities.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, the Chairman of the service, Mr Ekene Nnamani, revealed that the enforcement will commence on June 1, 2024.
He stated that this initiative is part of the effort to achieve the N20bn revenue target from land use charges in 2024, emphasizing that land and property taxes are crucial for the government's internally generated revenue.
Nnamani also mentioned that the plan aims to increase the state's internally generated revenue in alignment with Governor Peter Mbah's government's disruptive innovation agenda, which is designed to bring about transformation in the state.
He mentioned that the government had implemented automation for the Land Use Act fees in order to achieve its goals.
"The Enugu State Government has automated the land use charges within the state. Using the Geographic Information System, we have successfully identified 800,000 properties in the state.
“Every property owner in both the metropolis and villages is required to pay land use charges to enable the government to carry out its developmental plans for the citizens. These fees are dependent on the value of the land and where it is located. It ranges from as low as N15,000 to N300,000,” he noted.
He stated that even individuals who own ancestral homes are obligated to pay land use charges, clarifying that those in rural areas also receive benefits from the government, including access to schools, healthcare services, and other social amenities.
He went on to explain, "The charges are divided into different categories and are based on the size of the land.
Properties occupying two plots of land will be charged for two plots. Governor Peter Mbah's administration has utilized GIS technology to identify properties in the state, in line with the promise of disruptive innovation.
The Land Use law of 2016 mandates that all property owners in the state must pay these charges to the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service."
The chairman encouraged residents to cooperate with the service by fulfilling their obligations to avoid penalties.
He emphasized that no responsible government can achieve its transformative goals for the people without the active participation of citizens, including the duty of paying taxes.
