By Austin Ogwuda

Asaba — DELTA State Government has inaugurated a special task force charged with the responsibility of making landlords in the state to pay ground rents for their landed property, whether residential, religious, commercial or agricultural, to sustain the economic growth of the state, with immediate effect.

However, the inauguration of the task force, headed by a member of the state Board of Internal Revenue, Mr.  Frank Nwugo, has been criticised by the opposition, which described it as a move “to inflict more pains on the people.”

Speaking at the inauguration of the task force in Asaba, weekend, the state Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development, Mr. Patrick Ferife, said that the outfit derives its mandate to collect ground rent pursuant to the provisions of the Land Use Act 1978, as amended, which vested ownership of all lands on the state government.

He said: “Section 7 and 30, Annexure XXIII/C118 of Delta State Internal Revenue, DSIR, 2009 Law, empowers Delta State Board of Internal Revenue to collect ground rent from lease holders on both state and private land ranging from a maximum rate of N100 per square meter on commercial lease holders of state land to a minimum rate of 50k per square meter on agricultural lease holders on private lands.”

But reacting, state Chairman of Labour Party, Mr Emeka Nkwoala, said “this new policy is another form of raising resources for the state at the detriment of the people’s income.  We have always maintained that government’s policies must have human face and not inflict more pains on the people. If we must pay more through this ground rent policy, then government must show proof of transparency in the running of its activities. Our people must resolve to hold government accountable for their action and inaction always.”