May 23, (THEWILL) – Ogun State Government has cautioned Local Government administrators to desist from collecting unwholesome revenues from investors operating in their councils in the state
The government equally said that such practice promotes unhealthy investor relations and also double taxation, which in turn affects the State’s Ease of Doing Business index ranking.
Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dapo Okubadejo, disclosed this in Abeokuta while meeting with Chairmen and representatives of the 20 Local Government councils in the state
He said that the Dapo Abiodun led administration was doing everything possible to shore up the Internally Generated Revenue of the state to achieve its revenue target for the year and would not tolerate actions from the LG’s administrators capable hindering its chance to meet the target
Okubadejo noted that the monthly allocation from the Federal Government to LG in the state was grossly insufficient to meet its financial obligations, saying that the current administration has always urgent the fund to meet the dividend of democracy in the state
“You cannot achieve world-class governance without recognising the powers and financial autonomy of the Local Government as enshrined in our constitution.”
“Our Local Government administrators should desist from collecting unwholesome revenues from investors operating in their Local Government Areas”
“That is why we introduced the monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting to discuss the financial status and relationship between the State and Local Governments. This emphasises the transparency and accountability of this administration.”
“This is to enable all our Local Government stakeholders to know that the money coming from the Federal Government in their favour is not spent by the State government at all” he added
The commissioner, therefore, opined that revenue items such as tenement rates and others have been harmonised and taken care of by the Land Use and Amenities Charge (LUAC).
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