The Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has hinted on possible ways of boosting the revenue profile of the administration which could even surpass what the administration is currently generating three times if properly harnessed.
Particularly, the administration revealed that some of the sources it has identified and plan to carryout enforcement to ensure compliance include, Estates, Dispatch Riders, Uber, Bolt, Parks, Posters and campaign materials amongst others especially now that the country is heading into electioneering period.
The Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership Secretariat of the FCTA, Hon Lukman Dabiri gave the hint in a chat with Journalists in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
I’m telling you confidently, by the grace of God and my minister, by the time we are able to harness those area, I assure you, we can generate revenue three times of what we are getting at the moment.
Even the Lagos we are talking about if you put Advert in the street light, you have to paid for them, but here in Abuja, do you paid for them? Election is coming, campaign posters will soon be flushed all over, are they paying for such posters, go and find out.
What we are trying to do is checking ourselves three times on daily basic on how we are performing, it will be open and all machinery we need is there for us“, he disclosed.
Dabiri further explained that the Secretariat has been championing the course of harmonising revenue from all revenue generating agencies in the FCT with a view to block leakages, and grow the revenue base in the FCT.
He said such effort will make the Federal Capital Territory have capacity to fund its budget solely through the IGR.
The Secretary reassured the Secretariat continued support, stating that new department has been working tirelessly to raise and enhance the revenue base of the FCT.
He said in view of this, he would continue to extend hand of friendship across all revenue generating agencies in the territory to work assiduously towards achieving the set goals.
According to him”, the era of depending on budget is over generally in the world, COVID has taught us a lesson and because it has taught us a lesson and at that time many countries were doing their budget, suddenly COVID came and when it came in, they have to re-adjust. Some have not gotten into that adjustment till now. The only way out for every government and likewise other revenue unit, we are able to meet them, to know their challenges and also meet them to know the way forward”.
The Secretary also disclosed that they are planning on having training for staff within the revenue units or agencies of the FCT on capacity building so that they can be on the same page in such a way that money coming into the FCT coffer can be used to finance Capital projects within the City and environs.
He called on the media to work assiduously with the Secretariat towards sensitizing the public on the importance of paying revenue and benefits that could be derived from such act.
While highlighting some of the benefits that could be gotten from paying revenue, he revealed that it will bring about massive infrastructural developments in the areas of Road, water, electricity, schools, hospital among others.
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