By Sylvester Iloba
The Delta State Committee on Ground Rent Task Force has charged all defaulters on payment of their annual Ground Rents to the State Government to do so or face the full wrath of the law.
The Chairman of the Ground Rent Task Force Committee, Mr. Paul Esejor gave this charge when he spoke with news men at the end of the Ground Rent Mobile Court hearing by her Worship, Chief Magistrate Doris Mokwenye in Asaba.
The Mobile Court had heard 20 adjourned cases of Ground Rent Defaulters in order to give the Defendants fair Hearing.
He noted that the efforts of the Ground Rent Committee in the area of ensuring payment of Ground Rent is yielding results.
“The efforts of the Ground Rent Committee in ensuring that Ground Rent defaulters face the full weights of the Law for their deliberate refusal to pay their Statutory tax obligations to the State Government is yielding great results as majority of them have made payments while those who are yet to pay would be arrested and sent to Two Months in prison in line with the Judgment of the Mobile Court till payments are made.
“In accordance with the relevant laws on Ground Rent, the Committee is mandated to demand for Ground Rent from owners of properties with or without C of O in the State and all land property owners are being sensitized about their Ground Rent obligations to the State through the Electronic and Print Media.” He said.
Mr. Esejor further spoke on the levies and taxes that property owners in Delta State are under obligation to pay.
“It will interest you to know that apart from Ground Rent and Infrastructural Development Levy which are paid annually, there are other land charges land developers must pay as the need arises.
” Governor’s Consent Fees (GCF) this fee is payable by those that want to transfer their Rights of Occupancy on any landed property in the State . The Governor’s Consent must be obtained through the Ministry of Lands & Survey Asaba after payment of the relevant fees at the Bank.
“Others include, Planing / Development Process Fees (Fencing Fees & BQ Fees.) which are fees payable by new Developers in the State before the commencement of operations on the said land from the Ministry of Urban Renewal .
“Change of Use Fees (where applicable). A property designated either for industrial, agricultural or residential purposes but choose to use it for another purpose, the State Government must grant the permission for the Change of Use through the Ministries of Lands and Survey and Urban Renewal after payment of relevant fees
“And Building Plan Approval Fees. No structural building would be allowed to be put in place without the Building Plan Approval from the Government through the Ministry of Urban Renewal to avoid the incident of building collapse in any part of the State .” He further highlighted.
He scored the Ground Rent Task Force Committee high in the area of actualizing their mandates.
“The Ground Rent Task Force Committee has performed creditably in her mandate as earlier stated, but it will interest you to know that the Committee is partnering with the Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA’s) in packaging and developing a LAND MANAGEMENT PROCESS that will determine who does what and at what stage in the Land Management Charges by the Business Flow Management Team (BFMT) made up of the Ministries of Lands & Survey, Urban Renewal, the State Surveyor General, the Urban Planning Board and the Delta State Internal Revenue Service to look at all existing regulations and laws guiding Land Use/ Development in the State in order to determine the standard to be followed by Properties and Estates Developers in the State and the Fees payable at every stage of land development.
The new process when approved by the Governor would allow for ease of doing business in land management in the State.” He said.
