Merge MDA's to save costs- OBJ advises
Wed Jul 27, 2016 02:21:pm National
3.4K By Buchi Obichie
Governors in the 36 states of the federation have been advised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to merge ineffective Ministries, Departments and Agencies with viable ones; thus reducing the cost of governance in their respective domains.
Obasanjo gave his advice on Tuesday in Abekuta, while welcoming the Chairman, Joint Tax Board and Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr Babatunde Fowler, to his Hilltop residence.
In addition to reducing wasteful spending, the former President also charged the President and Governors to give account of citizens taxes and levies, which they collected.
According to Obasanjo, given the current economic downturn in the country, these steps would be part of measures to bring about buoyancy.
He said, "When times are hard, that is when the Government needs more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and it is also the time that those from whom the Government would want to generate funds are finding it hard to get money.
"What to do then? They must continue to try to increase, as much as possible, what each state can generate in terms of IGR. But states must also embark on a number of things.
"One, reducing waste. Two, they have to look into becoming slimmer. Government can do a lot by looking at their own establishments by bringing together institutions that do not have to continue to exist separately.
"And, generally, they must also show that the money they generate and the taxes that the citizens pay are well utilized.
"I think these are some of the things we have to do to get us out of the tight situation that we are all in, and we pray that the tax will roll in sooner than later."
In his response, Fowler agreed that the taxes collected should be judiciously utilized for citizens' benefit.
Obasanjo gave his advice on Tuesday in Abekuta, while welcoming the Chairman, Joint Tax Board and Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr Babatunde Fowler, to his Hilltop residence.
In addition to reducing wasteful spending, the former President also charged the President and Governors to give account of citizens taxes and levies, which they collected.
According to Obasanjo, given the current economic downturn in the country, these steps would be part of measures to bring about buoyancy.
He said, "When times are hard, that is when the Government needs more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and it is also the time that those from whom the Government would want to generate funds are finding it hard to get money.
"What to do then? They must continue to try to increase, as much as possible, what each state can generate in terms of IGR. But states must also embark on a number of things.
"One, reducing waste. Two, they have to look into becoming slimmer. Government can do a lot by looking at their own establishments by bringing together institutions that do not have to continue to exist separately.
"And, generally, they must also show that the money they generate and the taxes that the citizens pay are well utilized.
"I think these are some of the things we have to do to get us out of the tight situation that we are all in, and we pray that the tax will roll in sooner than later."
In his response, Fowler agreed that the taxes collected should be judiciously utilized for citizens' benefit.
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