2nd May, 2023
By Jethro Ibileke
Angry Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has threatened to invite the anti-graft agencies to probe the 18 local governments in the state for declaring ‘paltry’ N3 million collectively as internal revenue in one month.
Shaibu described as criminal, the generation of paltry sum of ₦3 million revenue in one month by administrators of the 18 local governments in the state.
The Deputy Governor revealed that while Egor local government generated the sum of ₦1 million, the other 17 councils jointly turned in ₦2 million, a situation she described as unacceptable to the government.
Shuaibu spoke on Tuesday during a close-door meeting with Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) and Local Government Liaison Officers at the Government House, Benin City.
He said the state government might be forced to probe, arrest and dismiss any of the council personnel involved in shady deals that resulted in the decline of the internally generated revenue (IGR).
According to him, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), may be invited to look into affairs of the councils.
He said: “Only incompetence, abuse of office, lack of accountability and truancy, among others, can result in the 18 Local Government Councils generating a paltry sum of three million naira monthly as internally generated revenue.
“It is also impossible for motorcycles and tricycles to generate more revenue than cars and buses put together.
“We will invite EFCC to investigate your activities for the period under review and whoever that is culpable of any mismanagement be sacked, arrested and be made to face prosecution in a competent court of jurisdiction”, Shaibu added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor has directed HOLGAs and Laison Officers to immediately constitute a credible revenue task force across the 18 LGAs to ensure proper collection of revenue for the purpose of accountability forthwith.
Also present at the meeting were leaders of the three recognized transport unions in the state, namely, RTEAN, NURTW and ANNEWATT.