By Bukola Adama
Contrary to claims by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, the Kwara State Government said it has always made use of local contractors in the execution of road projects in the state.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Governor, Dr Muyideen Akorede made this known while featuring on a radio programme, tagged; ‘Ibi Abashe de’ on Tuesday, alongside the Publicity Secretary of the state Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Sulyman Buhari.
Akorede disclosed that Offa-Ipee road, Gerewu phase 1, Sango-Oke Andi road, Babanloma township road, Oko Bridge in Oro-Ago, Tanke-Awolowo road, Oloro Palace road, among other road projects were executed by local contractors while local consultants were also engaged.
He added that these projects have empowered the beneficiaries and also created jobs for residents of the state.
Speaking on tax payment and collection in the state, the Governor’s Aide said the state government has not imposed any burden on individual tax payers and businesses.
He restated that the government neither introduced new taxes nor increased existing ones, but only restructured the tax collection system to block leakages.
According to Akorede, artisans in the state pay N2,500 as tax annually, while market women pay about N5,000 as annual tax depending on their income.
He also denied claims that the Federal Government has shut down the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Kwara State over alleged neglect of the camp by the state government.
He clarified that in view of the low number of the 2017 Batch “B” Stream ll corps members, the NYSC management decided that corps members deployed to Kwara, Ogun and Oyo states should have their orientation course at the Oyo NYSC camp in Iseyin.
He, therefore, noted that there was no iota of truth to the allegation that the Kwara NYSC orientation camp had been shut down by the Federal Government.
Speaking further, the Governor’s media aide stated that the state government has set aside N1.6billion as counterpart funding to access the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grant for the construction of classrooms in schools across the State. He added that the construction work will commence.
Also speaking, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari said that the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has used his position to attract more capital projects to the state.
He listed some of the projects to include dualisation of Michael-Imoudu/Ganmo road, Afon/Aboto/Oyo state boundary road construction, Share/Patigi road, Ilorin-Omu Aran-Egbe road, Pategi-Kpada Road and contractor mobilisation to Ajasse Ipo-Offa Erinle Road, among others.
