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Nigeria: Insufficient Funds Hinder Lagos Devt, Says Fashola
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Vanguard (Lagos)
24 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
Olasunkanmi Akoni
GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday met with stakeholders to mark his 300 days in office and said paucity of funds constituted a big problem for government in realising its dreams.
But he told the stakeholders including former governors of the state- Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu - former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina and AC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, that "the journey has just begun and we will not rest on our oars.
"Our major challenge has been that of raising funds to deliver on our promises. Realising that without adequate funds, most of our plans and dreams for the state would remain dreams and if we have to rely on funds from federal account, then we will continue to be at the whims and caprices of the Federal Government," he said.
According to him, the situation was responsible for the on-going reforms of the state's internally generated revenue machinery.
The state currently generates close to N10 billion monthly from internal sources, which government believes is inadequate in the face of the massive developmental and infrastructural projects the administration is executing.
The reforms so far carried out, he said, had ensured the blockage of loopholes.
"By these reforms, the state's internal revenue generation agency attained a semi autonomous status while the state internal revenue service came into being.
The internal revenue is recording gradual but measured growth but we are not where we should be yet. I must again appeal to the elite to show leadership by promptly paying their taxes, and set worthy example for others to follow," he said..
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He pledged to continue to work towards making Lagos the pride city it should be, adding: "We will continue to run an open and transparent administration, hinged on popular participation and the rule of law."
The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, who also addressed the forum said 10 waste transfer loading stations would be built by the end of this year.
These are in addition to 100 compactors expected this week to be deployed in tackling the problem of refuse collection in the state.
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