Date: 2016-11-24

The Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association, (IEYDA), has appealed to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, to as a matter of leniency, regulate the charges attached to the collection of Certificate of Origin by the indigin of the state.

The association at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2016, resolved that, "the Kwara State Government should as a matter of urgency direct her agencies such as the Kwara Internal Revenue Service, (KWIRS), as well as the newly inaugurated Transition Implementation Committee Chairmen across the 16 local government areas to desist from charging exorbitant rates in the process of citizenship collection."

In a resolution jointly signed by the President and Public Relations Officer of the association, Alhaji Abdullahi Salaudeen and Mallam Uthman Jagunmo respectively, pledged their support for the government on the efforts geared towards increasing the IGR of the state.

"We are in full support of the government's efforts in boosting the Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR), of the state aimed towards infrastructural development of Kwara, but we stand-tall against exploiting our kinsmen in this direction."

"There is no gain saying that Certificate of Origin is a birth right of every indigenes of any community. Therefore, we appeal that token amount should be charged considering the current economic challenges facing the nation and her people."

They further appalled to the government to reduce the exsobetant rate currently been charged.

"We therefore appeal that the rate should be pegged to a maximum sum of N2,500 which should be centrally managed in order to allow for mass participation.

"This becomes pertinent due to the fact that if not centrally coordinated, it will give room for extortion at the local government secretariats as well as ward levels where signature of certain authorities will be required on the certificate before final collection," they stressed.

While congratulating the newly inaugurated TIC Chairmen, IEYDA charged them to live up to the expectation of the masses by providing people's oriented policies capable of bringing accelerated developments to their various communities.

The group also urged the TIC Chairmen to always prioritize the settlement of backlog salary arrears of LG and SUBEB workers as instructed by the executive Governor of Kwara State.