Experts in Ondo State, under the umbrella of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) have kicked against the proposed Land Use Charge by the state government.
The stakeholders cautioned Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to drop the idea of imposing land use charges on residents in the face of the current economic hardship.
The Chairman of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN, Pastor Gboyega Akerele told journalists in Akure, the state capital that there was a need for the state government to consult stakeholders effectively, especially landlords and professionals before introducing or implementing the policy.
He reminded the Governor that the policy had in recent time set Lagos government against its people and civil society groups.
Akerele who pointed out that the policy would fail if Governor Akeredolu’s administration refused to put in place necessary measures.
The APBN Chairman attributed failure of many government’s policies in Nigeria to refusal of policy makers and lawmakers to engage expertise of professional bodies in the country.
Pastor Akerele said professionals across the country led by Dr Idris Omede would converge on Akure this week to deliberate and proffer solutions to brain-drain, quackery and non-patronage of indigenous experts by government.
It will be recalled that the Lagos State government had been at loggerheads with residents over an increase in land use charges under the Lagos State Land Use Charge (LUC) Law and after several protests, the Akinwumi Ambode-led government soft-pedalled and reduced the land use charges.
However, the Ondo State Government said it was very careful with the policy, saying it had chosen to hold meetings with property owners before introducing the new law. The State Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa who described the land use charge law as a veritable and legal revenue generation means for the government disclosed this.