Ajimobi imposes levies on churches, mosques, others in Oyo [Details]
bodies, manufacturing, trading and other business organisations in the
state.
These levies were imposed as part of efforts by the state government
to generate funds in order to assist security agencies in their bid to
maintain a crime-free state.
The categories of the levies were contained in flyers made available
to journalists at an emergency stakeholders meeting conveyed by the
state government, which was held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament
Building, Secretariat, Ibadan on Tuesday.
At the meeting were the state commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun
Odude, representatives of the GOC of 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Odogbo
Ibadan, Area Commanders, DSS, Customs, NSCDC, NDLEA, chief executive
officers of banks and representatives of Manufacturing Association of
Nigeria.
The flyers indicated that religious bodies in category A are expected
to pay the sum of N60,000 annually while manufacturing and services in
category A are to pay N100,000 annually.
The approved rates/ levies for class A (Large) in the manufacturing
sector is N100,000, category B (Medium) is N80,000 while category C
(Small) is N60,000.
Those in the services, class A are to pay N100,000, class B is N80,000
while class C will pay N60,000 annually.
Those in the class A, trading, agriculture and forestry and solid
minerals are to pay N80,000 while those in the classes B and C are to
pay N50,000 and N30,000 respectively annually.
The rest are religious bodies including churches and mosques as well
as those in other areas who were asked to pay N60,000, N40,000 and
N20,000 for classes A, B and C respectively.
The notice said that payment of the above levies are necessary to
support the state government to ensure lives and property are
protected.
It reads, "This is to certify the general public that OYSSTF, in
pursuance of it's statutory function to continue to assist security
agencies, is embarking on the implementation of the law (OYSSTF
AMENDMENT LAW 2017) recently assented by His Excellency, Oyo State
Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
"Further to the above, the board of trustees of OYSSTF in conjunction
with relevant stakeholders, having held several consultations, town
hall meetings and discussions preceding the commencement of the law,
hereby informs the general public that in accordance with section 11
(4) of the Oyo state security trust fund law 2017 which empowers the
government to impose levies and rates on "person" which include
residents, individuals, associations and corporate bodies or firms
domiciled in the state.
Ajimobi, while speaking said the meeting was convened in reaction to
an observation of a noticeable increase in the activities of criminals
in neighbouring states and attacks on banks.
The governor, who spoke through his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake
Adeyemi, said, "It is common knowledge that before the inception of
this present administration, insecurity in form of armed robberies,
arson and other violent crimes as well as lawlessness from the
nefarious activities of area boys had been the order of the day.
"The prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state has been the result
of the zero tolerance for crime by this administration and also
through the commitment of the state government to combating crime
through steps such as the establishment of Oyo State Joint Security
Patrol Squad code named "Operation Burst" as well as the setting up of
the Oyo State Security Trust Fund," Ajimobi stated. I can confirm that
the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) in black spots
and business districts in the city to monitor the activities of
criminals has been completed and is now operational.
Chairman of the state Security Trust Fund, Mr. Bayo Adelabu, whose
address was read by the Executive Secretary of the trust fund, Mr.
Femi Oyedipe, noted that the spate of recent armed robberies on banks
and the killing of security personnel in neighbouring states have made
it necessary to hold the emergency meeting.
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