The Guardian (Nigeria)

Yobe Introduces Cattle Tax To Improve Security, IGR

- From Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

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Heyobe State government has introduced ‘ livestock tax’ to improve the security situation in the state and also rev up its Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR).

The government posited that the imposition of the tax could mitigate conflicts between herders and farmers.

THEYobe State government has introduced ‘ livestock tax’ to improve the security situation in the state and also rev up its Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR).

The government posited that the imposition of the tax could mitigate conflicts between herders and farmers while tending their cattle and farmlands in various communitie­s.

While announcing the initiative last Thursday at an Advocacy and Sensitisat­ion meeting in Damaturu, the Secretary to the State Government ( SSG), Baba Mallam Wali, said: “Governor Mai Mala Buni has signed an Executive Order No 3 for the introducti­on of cattle tax in the state. He said that to sustain peaceful coexistenc­e between herders and farmers, the tax has to be introduced to reduce cattle rustling and communal clashes.”

According to him, taxes on cattle, camels, donkeys, horses and other livestock would enhance security and the IGR of the state.

He noted that a high- powered committee led by the Commission­er for Agricultur­e, Mairo Ahmed Amshi, has been set up to implement the Executive Order.

He added that representa­tives of

Government Ministries, Department­s and Agencies ( MDAS) were also members of the committee.

“This committee is to sensitise and bring every member on board on the benefits of livestock taxes. Once we have peace in the state, we will now reintroduc­e and adopt the modalities of imposing livestock taxes effectivel­y to raise more revenues,” she said.

Mairo also noted that livestock and crop production has contribute­d to the developmen­t of the state. She stated that peaceful coexistenc­e was very important, noting that the population was increasing, while land remains stagnant.

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