Market demolition, banning of commercial motorcyclists, others pose challenges to IGR- Council boss
Revenue
By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, Feb. 20, 2020 (NAN) Dr Augustine Arogundade, Chairman, Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, says recent total banning of commercial motorcycles operation and demolition of Katangowa Market, have affected the council’s revenue generation.Arogundade made this disclosure at a two-day Budget Retreat organised by the council on Thursday in Lagos.
According to him, the LCDA needs to re-strategise, block loopholes of revenue leakages and be ready to sacrifice for the sustenance of the council.
“With the challenges we are facing now: demolition of Kantangowa Market, banning of `Okada` and others, the LCDA needs to re-strategise to block loopholes of revenue leakages.
“Also, the LCDA should to be ready to sacrifice for the sustenance of the council and for the overall interest of our people,” he said.
Arogundade said further that the area officers and other revenue collection officers needed to be more disciplined and productive.
“Let me quickly remind us that a retreat, such as this, is meant to create a conducive atmosphere to rigorously set agenda, justify our proposals and most importantly disaggregate our limited resources, amongst various competing and unlimited wants.
“This will enable us to achieve an optimal budget performance by the end of the year,” he added.
Arogundade said that the LCDA had organised the meeting, with the aim of considering the needs and aspirations of the stakeholders.
He said that the forum would allow them to give priority to their proposals so as to achieve the common goals and objectives within the fiscal year.
According to him, the forum will also afford them the opportunity to prioritise the proposals in order of importance, due to dwindling sources of revenue.
“In years past, there had been wide disparity between the set targets and the actual outcomes.
“This retreat is an avenue to generally discuss the budget contents, its key priorities and the expected deliverables for the year 2020,” he said.
The council chief said that the LCDA was expected to put in its utmost best toward ensuring that they consolidate on the achievements.
According to him, it is on this premise that the 2020 Budget was carefully tagged: “Budget of Consolidation” in order that they may successfully complete all ongoing projects and deliver them to the people.
He, however, charged the Heads of Departments and leaders in the council to cooperate among themselves so as to accomplish their set goals.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Lagos State Government on Feb. 3 demolished the Katangowa Market in Abule-Egba area of the state to pave way for the development of new Computer Village in the area.
Shops, houses and worship centres around the market were also reduced to rubbles, after the expiration of a seven-day notice to quit.
Also, the state government had on Feb. begun the enforcement of banning and restriction of motorcycles and tricyclists operations in 15 major local government areas of the state. (NAN)
AKA/OOA/GOK
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Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Olagoke Olatoye