Plateau Govt Vows To Recoup Non-Remittance Of Revenue From All The Banks -Hon Yakubu Dati

Yakubu Busari

The Plateau State Government has concluded plan to clampdown on Nigeria Banks, business owners, organizations that have defaulted in payment of ground rates accruing to the government in 15 years as a way to improve IGR.

The commissioner of Lands and Survey Hon Yakubu Dati, management including staff of ministry said noncompliance to ground rates payment from ECO Bank, FCMB, Access Bank and others is giving them a sleepless night.

To boost the revenue base of the state, the ministry of lands, survey, and Town is now planning to embark on operation pay your tax, and ground rate.

Hon Yakubu Dati on Tuesday reiterated government readiness toward improving the IGR to embark on meaningful projects through awareness campaign by calling on the staff of the ministry to lead by example in paying their ground rate.

The ministry has a list of defaulted organizations that have affected the ministry revenue for the past 15 years and in line with the development plan of the Lalong rescue agenda.

Dati emphasized the need for all companies operating in the state to urgently pay their ground rates to avoid embarrassment by complying with the directive issue from the ministry for Lands, Survey and Town planning.

He called on individuals, a private company that might have defaulted in their payment to take advantage of the ongoing campaign on-ground rates and obtain C of O and papers.

The Hon commissioner and his team visited EcoBank regional manager at Ahmadu Bello way, and the commissioner formally presented the letters containing the default ground rates, as well as also presented him a letter to that effect as a move to recover all the lost revenue accruing to the ministry.

Dati disclosed that the ministry had targeted revenue of five hundred million (500, 000000) under the present revenue drive to the Plateau state IGR for 2020 physical year.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the non-payment of the land dues and that is why he brought the letters himself.

EcoBank in Jos Metropoulos and other branches have not paid the land due to the ground rate for over 10 years as the commissioner asks them to pay to avoid the ministry taking action as it is already guided by the law and he sees no reason why the non-complaint.

The permanent secretary of the ministry who was also present explain to the organization the penalty for the defaulted organization as government is taking a strict measures to recover her revenue and let them not be found wanting, in response by the head of the bank the apologize and promise to forward it to their head office and also promise that payment will be made soon as soon as they get clearance from the head office.

The second place visited was Access Bank at Ahmadu Bello way the letter was also given the regional manager and other management staff present, Access who are also in arrears of Over 15 years were also asked to clear all their land dues, ground rate as soon as possible.

Hon Dati lamented that since the assumption of office he discovered that many business owners and organizations are defaulting paying their ground rates and that has affected the ministry revenue drastically which inform the operation carry out by management staff going out themselves including the permanent secretary to distribute letters

Hon Dati said the revenue the government generates is what would be used for developmental projects like roads and solar street lights and many other things but, if there is no revenue how can the government achieve all her plans.

He all use the opportunity to call on the good people of plateau state to take advantage of the 50% discounts on the certificate of occupancy (C of O) by his excellency Rt Hon Simon Bako Lalong.

He appealed to landowners to come as the government has approved 7new layouts and is given to contractors with all the necessary paperwork with land titles, they should come and pay to benefit from the great opportunity and this is the first time such a thing is happening.

Dati promised to generate over five hundred million (500,000000) to the state from the ministry to help on the 5 pillar policies of his excellency Simon Lolong as part of their efforts.