PLATEAU STATE LAND USE CHARGE LAW, PLAGIS LAW 2021 ENGAGEMENT: “THESE LAWS ARE AIMED AT, AIDING REVENUE COLLECTIONS”. COMM. YAKUBU DATI, TELLS STAKEHOLDERS (READ UNEDITED)

WELCOME TO ADDRESS BY THE HON. COMMISSIONER PLATEAU STATE MINISTRY OF LANDS, SURVEY AND TOWN PLANNING AT THE STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PLATEAU STATE PROPERTY AND LAND USE CHARGE LAW 2021 AND THE  PLATEAU STATEGOEGRAPHIC AND INFORMATION SERVICES (PLAGIS) LAW 2021 ON INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE HELD AT THE CREST HOTEL ON THE 10^THMARCH, 2022

PROTOCOL:

.His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong

.The Secretary to the Government of the State

.The Chief of Staff to the Governor of Plateau State

. Royal Fathers

. The Keynote speaker – Hon. Chrisantus Ahmadu, Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Plateau State

. Hon. Commissioners

. The Accountant General of the State

. The Chairman Plateau State Internal Revenue Service& their Consultants the CPP

. Heads of Boards and Parastatals

. Representatives of Professional Bodies

. Representatives of the business community

. Invited Guests

. Gentlemen of the press

. Ladies and gentlemen

It gives me great joy to welcome you all to this auspicious occasion of the continuation of activities all geared towards increased revenue generation by the Plateau State Ministry of Lands, Survey & Town Planning which was set in motion with this first stake holders’ engagement held on the 30^th September, 2021, to be closely followed by this one all in an effort to bring the state back to the stage of good fortunes through efficient land administration.

Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen. It is beyond argument that the world over, land based revenue is the new black gold of the 21^st century. Even more so, with the dwindling income generated from crude oil occasioned by alternative means of energy such as solar and bio-fuel, the dependence hitherto placed on crude oil is greatly diminished. Thus the need for a stable, reliable and consistent source of revenue cannot be over emphasized.

In Plateau State, because land based revenue has remained hugely untapped and the returns from the sector in dire need of a turn around, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong had on the 14^th July, 2021, in a bid to turn the land sector around, assented to the Plateau State Property and Land Use Charge Law 2021 and the Plateau State Geographic and Information Services (PLAGIS) Law2021. Two critical laws passed by the Plateau State House of Assembly to aid revenue collections from land administration.

It is for this and other reasons that the Management of the Ministry deemed it necessary to organize this stake holders’ engagement in order to bring heads of government Ministries, Agencies, Departments, development partners and members of the business community especially the Small and Medium Sale Enterprises in the state who are clients of the ministry under one roof to present these laws, appreciate their implications on land administration and to chart a way forward for the growth and development of the state through increased revenue generation from the collective collaboration of all critical stakeholders.

It is imperative to state, that the business community especially the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises are close to the hart of the administration of this government. This is evident in the evident in the 50% waiver granted by His Excellency on all land based transactions with the Ministry since the inception of his administration.

The business community is therefore urged to take advantage of these reliefs by cooperating with government while saving huge resources through timely payment of their Property and Land Use Charge.

With the PLAGIS Law now in place, the tone has also been set for the constitution of its Board which the law empowers to innovate its operations in a simplified manner to enhance revenue collections in synergy with the Ministry.

On the whole, the Ministry is not leaving any stone unturned in its bid to becoming the major revenue earner of the state and a critical stake holder in the realization of His Excellency’s vision for the state which can only be realized with the cooperation of the citizens of Plateau State and especially, members of the business community.

I therefore urge you not to hold back in your opinions and suggestions which could make the difference between success and failure and because we have no intention of failing, as partners in progress, I urge you to apply your wealth of experience in the discussions on these laws in order to guide us on the path of increase in the area of revenue generation in the state while applying the laws.

Thank you!

MORE TO COME….