NAN-HE-91
Revenue
By Usman Aliyu& Afusat Agunbiade
Ilorin, May 16, 2017 (NAN) Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, has directed the state new Transitional Implementation Committee (TIC) chairpersons to strengthen its revenue machinery for proper synergy with the state Internal Revenue Service.
Ahmed gave the directive on Tuesday in Ilorin at the inauguration of the committee chairpersons for the 16 Local Government Councils in the state.
According to him, improved revenue will enable the councils to meet many of their obligations, particularly the prompt payment of salaries.
Ahmed also urged the councils to mobilise the informal sector, to enhance regular payment of taxes in line with the existing regulations.
He said that Local Governments in Nigeria could have autonomy provided that the LG administration got reformed and strengthened along economic lines.
The governor blamed structural and economic deficiencies in the Nigerian Local Government system on the councils’ failure to perform their constitutional duties.
“Therefore, this occasion underscores our resolve to sanitise our Local Government system, as a prelude to the attainment of autonomous councils.
“Clearly, the economic realities in the Local Governments and indeed the country, remain unfavourable to the enthronement of executive chairpersons,” he said.
Ahmed explained that the TIC members were only expected to give priority to the payment of salaries and pensions and start to clear arrears of accumulated entitlements.
He warned them against making new appointments and to be cautious of any conduct that could call their integrity to question.
According to him, the councils’ limited finances may be complicated without reforms that can enable them to meet their challenges.
“While the current agitation for Local Government autonomy enjoys a degree of support among Nigerians, the desired autonomy may only yield little fruits unless the LG system is strengthened economically.
In other words, granting autonomy to Local Government with limited economic potential is more likely to complicate rather than resolve the challenges confronting the system.
“What we need is a reform that will provide tangible opportunities for Local Governments to meet salary and infrastructure obligations,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmed had on May 10, approved the appointment of the TIC members, following the expiration of the second term tenure of the committee inaugurated in November 2016.
Responding on behalf of others, Mrs Funmilayo Salau, the TIC chairperson for Ilorin South Local Government, pledged to deliver the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
She thanked the governor for finding them worthy to be part of the change agenda in the country. (NAN)
AUO/AGF/OSA/YEMI
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Yemi Idris-Aduloju