Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun
EHIME ALEX, Lagos
Ogun State Ministry of Finance said it generated over N129.9 million between January to June, 2020, just as efforts were on to revamp the state’s economy and achieve government’s post COVID-19 economic plans.
Dapo Okubadejo, the state’s commissioner for finance, stated this while appearing before the State House Committee on Finance and Appropriation on 2020 Budget assessment at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, according to a release by the State’s Ministry of Information & Strategy on Thursday.
He explained that the economic plans would include adoption of a robust reform in Land Use Administration and Amenities Charges as well as introduction of revenue harmonization scheme to eliminate multiple taxation and block revenue leakages, thereby raising performance bar in revenue generation.
Explaining the mode of operations of the Ministry’s Special Taskforce, set up for revenue monitoring and enforcement, the commissioner assured that the measure is aimed at reducing fake ticketing and fraudulent activities of revenue agents at all toll points across the State.
Also, the State Accountant General, Michael Idowu presented the 2020 budget performance of his office before the lawmakers, and examined that of the office of the Governor, Chief of Staff, Bureaux of Political Affairs and Administration, Cabinet and Special Services, Protocol and Ceremonials, as well as the State Liaison Offices in Abeokuta and Abuja, among others.
In a related development, the Head, Ogun State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Adekunle Adeosun, while responding to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, disclosed that most of the plans to jack up revenue could not be operational without a law, hence, a Bill, towards boosting the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the areas of pools, betting and lotteries, was already in the pipeline and would soon be presented to the house for approval.
Speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Olakunle Sobukanla, said the Assembly would support any effort geared towards boosting revenue generation in the State, in order for government to deliver more on the dividends of democracy to the people.