The Ilorin Emirate Youths Development Association, (IEYDA), has appealed to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, to regulate the charges attached to the collection of Certificate of Origin by the citizens of the state.

The association at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday resolved that “the Kwara State Government should as a matter of urgency direct its agency such as the Kwara Internal Revenue Service, (KWIRS), as well as the newly inaugurated Caretaker Chairmen across the 16 local government areas to desist from charging exorbitant rates in the process.”

According to the resolution which was jointly signed by the President and Public Relations Officer of the association, Alhaji Abdullahi Salaudeen and Mallam Uthman Jagunmo respectively, “We are in full support of the government’s efforts in boosting the Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR), of the state towards greater development, 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 stressed that, “We therefore appeal that the rate should be pegged to a maximum sum of N 2, 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.”

While congratulating the newly inaugurated TIC chairmen, IEYDA urged them to live up to the expectation of the masses by providing people’s oriented policies capable of bringing accelerated developments to the rural communities and also prioritize settlement of backlog salaries arrears of workers as instructed by the Governor.