By Bukola Adama
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has identified over-reliance on crude oil fund as bane of development of many states of the federation.
Ahmed however restated his government’s commitment to improve it revenue base and ensure judicious application of the fund through evenly deployment of infrastructures across the state.
The Governor who dropped the hint in Ilorin, on Wednesday, when he received a team from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum who paid him a courtesy call, spoke of his government’s resolve to continue to explore Internally Generated Revenue platform to bridge infrastructure deficit gaps in the state.
He told his visitors about efforts made by his government in changing people, process and technology in order to shore up the internally generated revenues for deployment of masses-oriented projects.
According to him, “Over-reliance on crude oil fund has the major factor militating against the development of most states of the federation. So, it is high time the governors reinvigorate their board of internal revenue for mutual benefit “.
He explained that unless there was paradigm shift on the negligence attitude of some states towards tax collection, nothing meaningful would be achieved.
The team leader and the Programme Manager, Helpdesk, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr Olanrewaju Ajogbasile explained that they were in the state for revenues mobilisation and support for financial and capital.
He told the governor that the exercise started last year with the aim of enhancing Internally Generated Revenues management, tax operations among others.
He explained that the state was the first state to be visited by the group due to the impressive report gotten about the state on revenues generation and application.
