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MONTHLY IGR IN LAGOS NOW N34BILLION- ASHADE

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… Says N50bn Revenue Target By 2019 Still On Course

…Receives N327m From 13% Oil Derivation

 

The Lagos State Government on Monday said that it has so far achieved an average monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N34billion in 2018 compared to monthly averages of the last three years.


Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade who disclosed this at the ongoing annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration held at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, attributed the gradual improvement to the impact of the ongoing reforms and growth in the State’s economy.

 

He said, “Notably, we are recording gradual improvement in our average monthly IGR in 2018 compared to the levels achieved in previous years due to the impact of ongoing reforms and growth in the State’s economy. Based on our first quarter results, Lagos State has so far achieved an average monthly IGR of N34billion in 2018 compared to monthly averages of N22bn, N24bn and N30bn in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.”

 

The Commissioner expressed optimism that the IGR would continue to rise even further as the State continues to implement the various reforms, driven by wider technology adoption and innovation, adding that the target to grow the State’s IGR to N50bn by next year was well on course.

 

“The target we set for ourselves is N50billion but we all know the kind of push backs we have experienced including people going to court and all that. Our commitment is not for now, its for the future of Lagos. We know it’s a marathon, we would win some and we would lose some, but we are very committed towards ensuring that we meet the target, but if we don’t meet it this year, definitely there would be another year, but we believe we would succeed in that target we set for ourselves,” Ashade said.

 

On Federal Transfers, he said since Lagos joined the league of oil producing State, the Government had received a total of N327million revenue, comprising N197million and N130million received in 2017 and first quarter of 2018 respectively.

 

“Furthermore, we are in ongoing discussions with the Federal Government towards obtaining a refund for expenditure totalling N51billion that was incurred by the State Government on behalf of the Federal Government for infrastructure projects developments in the State. We are optimistic of successful discussions that will result in the approval and payment of the amount owed to the State Government by the Federal Government,” he said.

 

Giving an update on the State’s Debt Profile, Ashade said the Government’s debt stock, comprising 48 per cent local debt and 52 per cent foreign debt currently stood at N874.38billion at the end of 2017 while the debt service charge to total revenue ratio which stood at 17.61 per cent was still within the World Bank threshold of 30 per cent.

 

The Commissioner said the State Government has continued to maintain a positive credit rating, however, adding that a downgrade of Nigeria’s sovereign rating would lead to a corresponding action on Lagos’ international drawing rights. 


“As Nigeria continues to improve on its credit rating, we would be able to achieve better rating as we currently have because no amount of revenue generation, no amount of employment growth of Lagos State can make us surpass to surpass the sovereign rating,” he said.  

 

He, however, said that the State Government has taken some strategic steps to help Nigeria improve on its ratings including adhering to fiscal discipline, improved revenue generation, reforms in infrastructure development, transport and embedded power.

 

Giving an update on the revised Land Use Charge (LUC), Ashade said the State Government has continued to engage critical stakeholders in line with its tradition of inclusive governance, adding that a wide range of response have been received.

 

He said the extensive discussions led to several concessions on Land Use charge for property owners across board, adding that a revised bill to further amend the LUC Law to incorporate the additional concessions was presently before the House of Assembly and would be passed soon.

 

Besides, the Commissioner said the Government through the LUC Assessment Appeal Tribunal, received a total of 1,503 complaints, out of which 1,113 were successfully resolved administratively and through mediation, adding that an additional 263 property owners/agents had their grievances resolved in the last two weeks and more still ongoing.

 

Ashade also urged residents to continue to support the government by fulfilling their civic duty of paying their taxes and remitting all taxes collected on behalf of the Government as and when due, assuring that the present administration was committed to maintaining financial accountability and transparency for the overall development and prosperity of the State.

 

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Christian police fellowship of Nigeria bestows award of excellence on PMF president, Bishop Anthony

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Bishop Chidi Anthony is the founder of Kings In Christ Power Ministries International and the president of Pentecostal Ministers Forum of Nigeria,PMF.

He is one of God’s generals that has impacted many as he propagates the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; uniting and fostering unity and togetherness among ministers of God through Pentecostal Ministers Forum of Nigeria which he happens to be the president, young ministers have benefited immensely from the organisation as PMF offers financial support to it’s members that are in need.

Christian Police fellowship of Nigeria decided to honour bishop Chidi Anthony for his marvelous and magnificent impact in the Christendom .CPFN bestowed an award on him yesterday at the police College,Ikeja.Bishop Anthony was there with his lovely wife,Rev.Nkiru Anthony to receive the award,his exhilaration was very conspicuous and he said “I’m really elated receiving this award today,I want to encourage people to keep doing good and impacting lives positively,you don’t know who is watching and taking note of you,I actually never envisaged receiving an award,I never knew that they were contious of my good works, I’m really enraptured,I want to show utmost gratitude to CPFN for the award and pray that God will continue to bless them ”

Finally,he advised churches in Nigeria, especially the popular ones with massive congratulations to help their members in this critical period of the nation because Christianity is about love and care ,he enunciated that you can’t preach Jesus to a hungry soul,you need to feed him first if you really want him to listen and accept Christ

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Uromi killing:stop going to other states with guns prophet Ikuru warns the Northern

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By Collins Nkwocha

 

The prophetic hall of fame and Ambassador of peace, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry has castigated the Northern people, especially the Fulanis for always travelling and entering other states with arms.

 

The prophet of the nation who outrightly condemned the killing of Northern people in Uromi also enunciated that it’s wrong for the Northern people to invade other states with arms based on the tensed security threat the nation is facing at the moment “I want to condemn the killing in Uromi because nobody has the right to take another person’s life,they should have been handed over to the security operatives, the killing in cruel and barbaric,but it’s wrong for the Northern people to keep invading other states with arms, the rate of insecurity in the nation is high, anyone seen with a gun is dreadful and harmful,Fulani Herdsmen have perpetuated so much heinous and callous act for people to be apprehensive of their presence,my in Law was a victim of their heinous act,they assaulted her in her farmland,their presence with arms is really terrifying and it’s making farmers to desert their farmlands, prompting food scarcity ”

 

The prophet of the nation advised the government to take a proper look at the possession of arms by these men and reiterated that the North is big enough for thousands of hunters and herdsmen to explore “travelling to other states with arms is not good, the North has got the largest landmass in the country,why leave the North to other states with little Landmass , the North is very massive, it’s very obvious that their is hidden agenda,why will someone leave a river to look for fish in a swimming pool, the government need to look at these area critically,arms should be prohibited, anyone that is not a security operative shouldn’t be seen with arms ”

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Rivers Crisis: Pro-Democracy Group Demands Reversal of LGA Appointments, Urge Tinubu To Rein in Sole Administrator

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Budget Constraints, Infrastructure Woes Stall Diplomatic Deployment

 

Citizens for Democratic Watch (CDW), a pro-democracy group, has condemned the appointment of administrators for the 23 local government areas in Rivers State by the sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, describing it as “a dangerous abuse of power and a direct attack on the constitution”.

This latest action, which came just 24 hours after a federal high court restrained Ibas from making such appointments, has triggered widespread concern over what CDW calls “the rapid erosion of democratic institutions under the guise of emergency governance”.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dr Hassan Dantani, Executive Director of CDW, called on President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene before the situation spirals out of control.

“Appointing 23 sole administrators in clear defiance of a federal court order is not only unlawful — it is tyrannical,” Dantani said.

“No state of emergency gives anyone the license to override the judiciary, erase local governance, and act above the law. This must be condemned in the strongest terms.”

Dantani noted that the local government system is a constitutionally recognised tier of government, and any attempt to run it without democratic structures sets a very dangerous precedent.

“This action by Ibok-Ete Ibas is a grave violation of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the system of democratically elected local government councils,” he said.

“Our democracy cannot function if unelected individuals are imposed to run local governments under military-style appointments.”

CDW warned that if allowed to stand, the appointments could embolden future political actors to trample on the rule of law and weaken the judiciary.

“The blatant disregard for a valid court order should alarm every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation,” Dantani said.

“When leaders ignore court rulings and impose their will, what remains of the rule of law? If we allow this to stand in Rivers, it could happen anywhere else.”

The group called on the National Assembly to urgently summon the Rivers sole administrator to explain his actions and ensure that all constitutional boundaries are respected.

“We urge the Senate and House of Representatives to treat this matter as a priority,” he added.

“Democracy must not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency or political convenience.”

Dantani concluded by demanding the immediate reversal of the LGA appointments and a return to constitutional order.

“The people of Rivers State deserve legitimate, elected representation — not handpicked appointees. We must not normalise authoritarian shortcuts in a democratic society,” the group warned.

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