By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Oyo State Government has demanded from the Federal Government 13% derivation from royalties, taxes and levies from solid minerals to the State and Local Governments.
Secretary to the State Government,(SSG) Alhaji Olaleka Alli stated this in Ibadan while receiving the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission team on nationwide monitoring exercise on royalty collections and activities of miners to his office.
He declared that with the present situation, it was glaring that Oyo state government is due for the payment of the derivation and that the derivation funds would be committed to various developmental projects in the state.
The SSG however urged miners in and across the state to start the payment of their land use charge, taxes and other levies to the covers of the state government.
Speaking, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission Coordinator for South West, Mr. Uche Nwagbara stressed that the Federal Government allowed several benefits to mining sector in the country.
According to the Coordinator, the benefits included Tax waivers to a newly established industry, duty free on importation of machinery among others to boost the activities of the industry.
In his remark, the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Solid Minerals, Mr Mathew Oyedokun assured that the state Government would collaborate with RMAFC in its activities, reiterating that the state would create an enabling environment for generating wealth from mineral resources and also to transform the mineral sector into an irresistible Mining destination for local and global market.
