By Augustine Okezie, Katsina
Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari has authorised an Executive Order making it mandatory for the Governor’s consent to be sought and obtained by potential license applicants before they could explore mineral resources in any part of the state.
The Commissioner for Natural Resources, Alhaji Abdullahi Imam, who disclosed this at the end of the Executive Council Meeting at Government House Katsina, told reporters that introducing the executive order has become imperative to checkmate abuses, resuscitate revenue earning opportunities for the state and instil sanity as well as ensure that legitimate miners obtain the requisite licenses.
He said: “Hitherto, mining and quarry activities as well as land utilisation in the state has been going on without any law and without the knowledge and regulation of the state government.
“Previously mining activities, site identification, obtaining of community consent, and license have been done in Abuja and the relevant ministry, but now, with the Executive Order and the approval of the necessary guideline by the state’s executive council, the Governor’s consent must be sought before obtaining license.”
In a related development, the Katsina State government has re-introduced community development levy and cattle taxes to speed up revenue generation and the development process in the state.
Under the new tax regimes, each working adult is expected to pay N2, 000 while a cattle breeder is expected to pay N500 per cattle.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Faruk Jobe, who disclosed this at the end of the state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Aminu Bello Masari said already a committee has been set up to fine-tune modalities for payment of taxes as well as conduct the necessary enumeration exercises and submit its report to the council.
He said: “After receiving the report, we resolved that each adult in the state, including non-indigenes as well as male and female civil servants are to pay N2,000 each as development levy annually,”
“For the cattle levy, ‘jangali’, every cow owner will pay N500 per cow yearly. We are going to push the matter to the state house of assembly for legislative process.”
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