PDP IGR SUMMIT 2019: SECONDUS ADVISES GOVERNORS TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX….Calls for prudent management of state’s resources
….Calls for prudent management of state’s resources
The national Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has urged the governors of PDP governed States to start to think outside the box. The Chairman who was represented by the Party’s National Financial Secretary, Abdulahi Maibasira at the opening day (Wednesday, 27th November, 2019) of the PDP Governor’s Forum organized IGR SUMMIT 2019 said there was need now, more than ever before for the governors to be prudent in the management of their states’ resources given the unfortunate fact that Nigeria has in the last few years, under the present administration of the federal government, been declared the “Poverty Capital of the World”.
Speaking further, Uche Secondus advised the PDP Governors to begin to save for the future as the level of poverty seen in our country has become very humongous and there has arisen an urgent need to invest in infrastructure. He therefore called on the governors elected under the platform of the PDP to expand their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base as a way of addressing the current challenges facing their states and people. He advised the governors to make their states’ revenue levels count and work.
Prince Uche Secondus said that in the area of individuals and companies who don’t want to pay taxes, the Governors have to check the issue of multiple taxation and the entire structure of governance in their states need to be properly checked at all levels as well as improving on ease of doing business. He emphasized that, the taxation process has to be made more transparent and wastages blocked to justify the need for the citizens and corporate organizations to pay their taxes. He said the states have to check where they have comparative and competitive advantages in order to enhance their performances in IGR.
Speaking earlier while welcoming participants to the Summit, the PDP Governor’s Forum Director
General , Naiwu Osaro, said given the inconsistency and downward trend in the price of crude oil, it has become urgent for states to diversify their sources of revenue. He noted that this call should not be mistaken for a call for more taxation but as an urgent need to start to think outside the box in preparedness for the time when the revenue allocation from the federal government dwindles as has been seen in recent times.
He stated further that, whether money comes from Abuja or not, there will still be need for the states to build infrastructure, pay workers, provide healthcare, improve education, etc. Onaiwu added further that, the PDP Governors Forum put together the Summit because the states could no longer wait for federal allocation in the face of dwindling income from crude oil to meet the yearnings of their people. He urged the governors to make a peaceful environment in their states a priority for them to be a conducive for IGR.
Also speaking on day one of the Summit, the Governor of Zamfara State, represented by his Deputy Governor, Aliyu Gusau, said that peace has been restored in the state which has led to a marginal increase in monthly IGR from N200 million to N300 million by the Government of Governor Bello Matawalle.
He said there was need to make new legislation and embrace automation as a way to increasing the revenue base of states in the country.
The 2019 Internally Generated Revenue Summit for PDP Governed States is organized by the PDP Governors Forum in collaboration with Red Sapphire Ltd and popular AIT Money Show, Moneyline with Nancy. The summit which began yesterday, 27th of November, 2019 is expected to end today, 28th November, 2019.
