All payments accruing to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) are now to be made through designated banks after verification from the Council, the AMAC Chairman in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu has said.
He gave the directive at a press briefing in Abuja as he announced the cancellation of all deals with contract partners, who currently collect revenue on behalf of the Council.
Maikalangu disclosed that the decision became imperative following discovery of diversion of revenue meant for the Council into private pockets; thereby, depriving the residents of the FCT, the dividends of democracy.
According to him, all contracts for revenue collection given by past administrations have been terminated with immediate effect, and a new regime has been instituted for revenue generation.
According to him, “further revelations about the criminal diversion of revenues into private accounts, touting and fake personnel in the field however, made it expedient for us to heed to widespread public outcry. In view of these and many other developments, I wish to repeat that the nullification of all forms of MoUs entered into by past regimes is hereby enforced,”.
He stressed, “Every form of collection except those in the transport sector, must first come and verify with us before going to pay in the banks. In that regard, we have stopped all forms of cash payments henceforth.”
“Prospective clients are advised to proceed to the Chief Revenue Officer’s office in the Council Secretariat, to obtain payment tellers and new account numbers, and make payment at designated banks,” Maikalangu added.
The Chairman warned that any technical partner, found violating the new revenue regime, would be prosecuted.
He further warned that the new policy must be respected and statutory staff must strictly abide by it as far as revenue generation is concerned.
The Chairman explained that his administration was out to ensure that available resources were judiciously expended for the purposes they were meant.
The AMAC boss, therefore, called on the Council’s residents to report any suspected case of extortion, as well as any irregularities to the council, via its Call Center Number 09162410000 or security personnel nearest to them.
Hauwa Abu
