The Niger State Government says a report that recommended the reintroduction of poll tax, otherwise known as 'Jangali', would be implemented later.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who disclosed this yesterday at Government House in Minna after receiving the report on the reintroduction of Jangali, described it as timely, considering the desire of the state government to urgently resolve the farmer-herder crisis and banditry in the state.
He commended the committee chaired by Etsu Nupe, Alh Yahaya Abubakar, for a thorough job done and assured that the report would be perused with a view to implementing most of the recommendations.
Mohammed Bago also acknowledged the fatherly role and good stewardship of the Etsu Nupe, promising that his administration will not relent in strengthening the traditional institutions in the state.
While presenting the report, the Etsu Nupe explained that the committee was set up by the immediate past administration in 2021 and observed that since the poll tax system was abandoned, the state government has been experiencing security breaches and has lost a huge source of internally generated revenue (IGR).
He said the committee also recommended the sharing formula, with the state government taking 50 percent, local government authorities 30 percent, and traditional institutions receiving 20 percent of what's collected.
He said reintroducing the poll tax system, among other recommendations, would help in curbing the activities of herders, curtail insecurity, and boost the IGR of the state.
The Etsu Nupe then called for cooperation and urged the state government to provide the needed social services for Fulani herders to feel the impact of governance.
The jangali, or poll tax, operated in pre-colonial Hausa society as a form of tax paid by owners of livestock and was charged per head of cow. It was in operation until the post-independence northern regional government abolished it.