By Eunice Orike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike,has identified non-payment of taxes, ground rent, certificate of occupancy, and levies as a significant challenge facing his administration.
He expressed frustration over the widespread refusal of Abuja residents to pay taxes, ground rent, and other levies.
Wike who made this known yesterday, when he inspected some of the projects that will be commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to commemorate his 2nd anniversary in office, expressed frustration over the widespread refusal of Abuja residents to pay taxes, ground rent, and other levies.
He stressed that the only way to fund infrastructure development in the FCT is through the collection of these revenues.
The minister lamented that many residents owe ground rent spanning up to 20 years, despite the rates remaining unchanged.
He warned that the administration is working towards increasing ground rent and will not be swayed by blackmail or other tactics.
Wike emphasised that the government relies heavily on taxes to fund development projects, noting that Abuja is not an oil-producing city.
“My greatest challenge, is the challenge of people refusing to pay their money. I will speak on that in the next media chat. And people just want facilities, people want infrastructure. But nobody asks, where are you getting these funds? Abuja is not one of the oil producing cities, we only rely on taxes. These are not new taxes. These are taxes that have been here for years.
“It is unfortunate that most elites own houses overseas. They know the implication of not paying taxes, they know such houses are gone. But when it comes to your own country, you don’t want to do that, simply because nobody wants to obey the law, everybody thinks there are no sanctions.
“Look at the years, 20 something years, 30 something years. And how much is it? We have not increased the ground rent, but we are working towards that, we will do that, I can assure. The President has given a waiver of two weeks. Let nobody thinks that blackmail or whatever will stop us, we will do what we are supposed to do,” he said.
However, he urged residents to pay their taxes and ground rents inorder to improve development in the territory, highlighting that over 1,500 certificates of occupancy and deeds of assignment have been signed.
Recall that the federal capital territory administration FCTA, had on Monday this week led by the director of land, FCTA, Chijioke Nwankwoeze began sealing of properties due to non payment of ground rent which includes the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, and other prominent institutions.
President Bola Tinubu intervened, granting property owners a 14-day ultimatum to pay outstanding ground rent and registration fees.
