By Edwin Philip
The Chairman, Lafia Local Government Council of Nasarawa State, Mohammed Haliru Arabo,has taminated the contract of all firms collecting revenue for the councils.
The decision followed a submission of a by report a committee he earlier constituted by thecouncil; and in their place, he mandated the committee on tax revenue to take over
The council chairman made the pronouncement during a press conference held in his office on Tuesday, 31st December 2024.
He however vowed to improve the revenue base of the council for better service delivery.
” No other person except the committee should go ahead and collect kobo in the name of Lafia Local Government Council, I hand over everything to the tax revenue committee pending when the local government and the State Internal Revenue Service will meet again, because in the last meeting where the State Deputy Governor was in attendance, it was resolved that the relationship with the council and Nasarawa State Internal Revenue Service should be cordial”, he said.
According to him, on assumption of office as the Chairman of the Local Government, he had a meeting with the director of finance and account of the council and the director of personel management, to abrest him on the financial in flow of the council from revenue collections and discovered some inconsistencies from the five firms saddled with the responsibilities of collecting revenue for the council.
Arabo added that if his administration allows the disbanded firms to continue collecting revenue without remitting to the council, it will spell doom for the local government , the eight man committee is headed by the council Secretary, Hudu Yahaya Sabo while Isa Muhammed Arikya is the secretary to the committee.
He charged the committee members to be transparent in discharging their mandate by ensuring that the revenue is channel to the coffers of the council.
” I have known them for long, I know their capacities and know what they can do, am sure they will handle the issue of revenue of Lafia Local Government effectively to my satisfaction that is why I handed over the issue of revenue to them” he added.
The Lafia Local Government Council Chairman, promised that with a expected high revenue inflow due to appointment of tax revenue committee, the council will embark on projects and human capital development at the grassroots which has suffered setback due to lack of funds since he assumed office.(www.krestnews.com).