Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Tuesday introduced levies on churches, mosques, and other business organisations in the state.

These levies, according to the state government, were imposed as part of efforts to generate funds to assist security agencies.

The categories of these levies were contained in flyers made available to journalists at an emergency meeting convened 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, Abiodun Odude; representatives of the GOC of 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Odogbo Ibadan; police area commanders, DSS, Customs, NSCDC, NDLEA, chief executive officers of banks and representatives of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria.

The flyers obtained by PREMIUM TIMES indicated that religious bodies in class A are expected to pay N60,000 while manufacturing and services in category A are to pay N100,000 annually.

The approved levies for class A (Large) in the manufacturing sector is N100,000 while class B (Medium) is N80,000 and class C (Small) is N60,000 annually.

The rest are 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 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.

Other religious bodies including churches and mosques 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.

“This is to certify the general public that OYSSTF, in pursuance of its 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.”

Meanwhile, Mr Ajimobi 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.

Mr Ajimobi who was represented by his deputy, Moses Adeyemo, 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.

“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.”

The chairman of the state’s Security Trust Fund, Bayo Adelabu, who is also the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state noted that the spate of recent armed robberies on banks and the killing of security personnel in neighbouring states had made it necessary to hold the emergency meeting.

He was represented by the Executive Secretary of the trust fund, Femi Oyedipe.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/297860-insecurity-oyo-introduces-levies-on-churches-mosques-businesses-others.html

i de wait for the time wey government go impose levies on shrines.....

dem know say shrine no get mercy....na operation impose and die...confused set of governmet._spits_

Wow

Finally someone has sense

This is even small

This is nothing

Nice move...if the money won't be looted

Per annum? Just for security? And a lot of them will still pay other numerous levies? What is the amount generate by some of the businesses?

This is a welcome development. Religious bodies need to contribute to their state's growth. Not just being a liability. The states should collect a tithe of their incomes too

aha... Churches will now be classifies as Class, A, B, and C. What determines which class a church belongs? Amount of offerings received or size of church or number of members?

now big churches have use to the economy , imagine this pastors doing business without paying tax. taaa that one na cheating na

nice one they are business centers

For me this is way to go.

don't play with religion they won't hear. religion is a no go area in this part of the world.

Good

Ajumobi is a malu....

Constituted levies

Ajimobi is not wise.

Muslims will be very angry with this nonsense and bet me, both christians and muslins will deal with APC next year

Nice one there

Only few people will like to comment on this topic base on the sensitivity

Impose levy on nairaland


I am Thompson Jotham, I am alive by His Grace and I am not Jubril of Sudan

Gboy101:
don't play with religion they won't hear. religion is a no go area in this part of the world.

Receive sense bro

Quickjobs:
Nice move...if the money won't be looted

yOU THINK SO?

The number one reason these politicians have been eyeing church money is in order to have their share of it.

Trust politicians at your own peril!

For those of you saying churches should be using their money to build industries, you have a point.

But my observations are

1. Nigeria as a business entity make trillions of naira everyday. These include money from NNPC (its subs and JVs), Company income tax, VAT, Personal income tax, import duties, registrations, certifications, etc "you can add your own"

2. How many industries have your politicians built with our money?

3. Church money belong to church people and they decide what they want to do with their money. After-all, they have also contributed to the government.

4. If the government is making good use of our money the way churches are making good use of their money, our country won't be this poor. Instead, they are busy stealing our collective resources.

5. I think the church have demonstrated responsibility and accountability by putting their meager resources to good use. Maybe we should allow the church to manage our nation's resources.

If we allow the church to manage Aso rock for 4 years, Nigeria might become a 1st world country.

What do yo think?

WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS SOLUTIONS TO TACKLE D CHALLENGES PPLE R FACING, DEY R BUSY IMPOSING LEVIES. D REVOLUTION WILL HAPPEN SOONER THAN LATER

Nice one from Ajimobi, I implore other states to do same.

Churches and mosques are businesses. They shld also pay taxes and levies.

Imams, Alhajis, alfas, Pastors, prophets and evangelist warm more money and enjoy live more than civil servants and businessmen.

Commendable, if the money will be used appropriately

Excellent concept.

This would have made some sense in sane climes where the fund will be used for the right purpose and by the right people, not in Nigeria. Here, they spend their security votes on personal runs but expect the business owners to fund security in the state

Sturborn Governor, Governor wey no look uche face... People would soon cry fowl play on this just like ayefele's scenario, cos its Mr authority .. Shaking religious tables few weeks to election

backnbeta:
This would have made some sense in sane climes where the fund will be used for the right purpose and by the right people, not in Nigeria. Here, they spend their security votes on personal runs but expect the business owners to fund security in the state

This is the only sensible post I’ve read on this thread.

That of churches and mosques is quite understandable but that of businesses is senseless. How can you ask a business that pays tax to start paying security levies again. What’s the essence of the tax.

What is the government using tax for. These politicians just see us as fools and bring all sorts of gibberish.

Bayo Adelabu has not gotten to the governorship post and he’s already trying to recoup the money he spent on primaries and the one he’d use to campaign. I heard he was transferring 1million each to leaders of each group during primaries.

Oyo state is in trouble for the next 4years.

[quote author=ikorodureporta post=73366510]



Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/297860-insecurity-oyo-introduces-levies-on-churches-mosques-businesses-others.html

Levies on mosques? I don't blame him sha since he no dey frequent local mosques.So na from #20,#50 dem go pay am? Upon say ur government no dey even pay 1kobo for central mosques imams