…Shaibu says it’s criminal for 18 councils to return a paltry #3m as monthly IGR
The Edo State Government has threatened to probe, arrest and dismiss any Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA), or council personnel involved in shady deals, resulting in the declining internally generated revenue, IGR.
The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon.Comrade Philip Shaibu, made the declaration Tuesday at the Government House, Benin City, during a closed-door meeting with HOLGAs and Local Government Liaison Officers. Also in attendance were leaders of the three recognised transport unions in the state. RTEAN, NURTW and ANNEWATT.
According to Shaibu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, may be invited by Edo State Government to look into the affairs of the Councils.
“Only incompetence, abuse of office, lack of accountability and truancy, among others, can result in the 18 Local Government Councils generating a paltry sum of three million naira monthly as internally generated revenue”.
He revealed that the IGR profile of Egor Local Government alone was one million naira, while the remaining 17 Local Government Councils generated 2 million naira, describing it as criminal and unacceptable to the government.
“It is also impossible for motorcycles and tricycles to generate more revenue than cars and buses put together”.
“We will invite EFCC to investigate your activities for the period under review and whoever is culpable of any mismanagement be sacked, arrested and be made to face prosecution in a competent court of jurisdiction”, Shaibu added.
However, the Deputy Governor has directed HOLGAs and Laison Officers to immediately constitute a credible revenue task force across the 18 LGAs to ensure proper collection of revenue for accountability forthwith.