Oyo State government imposes religious tax of N60,000 on faith houses to pay for security

OYO State government has imposed a religious tax of N60,000 ($165) a year on faith houses in a bid to raise internally generated revenue desperately needed to assist law enforcement agencies as part of a drive to improve security.

Like most of Nigeria's other 35 states, Oyo is heavily dependent on its federal allocation from central government to survive but in most cases, running costs exceed revenue. With the state's security agencies overwhelmed by criminals including kidnappers, armed robbers, ritualists and of late Fulani cattle herdsmen, the Oyo State government needed to come to their assistance.

Consequently, Governor Abiola Ajimobi introduced levies on churches, mosques and other business organisations in the state. These levies come in several categories with religious bodies placed in Class C and expected to pay N60,000 while manufacturing and service businesses are in Class A are to pay N100,000 annually.

At the meeting to confirm the new arrangement was the Oyo State commissioner of police Abiodun Odude,  representatives of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Customs, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian drug and Law Enforcement Agency, the chief executives of banks and representatives of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria. Under the new arrangement, the approved levy for Class A or large businesses in the manufacturing sector is N100,000 while for Class B of medium firms is N80,000 and Class C for small businesses and faith houses is N60,000 annually.

Deputy governor Moses Adeyemo, said: “This is to certify the general public that the Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF) in pursuance of its statutory function to continue to assist security agencies, is embarking on the implementation of the law (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.”

Governor  Ajimobi added: “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.” Bayo Adelabu, the chairman of the state’s security trust fund, , who is also the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, 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.