Dwindling Revenue; Edo Beams Searchlight On Councils, Set To Invite EFCC To Probe Finances

By Ayodele Oni

The Edo State Government has threatened to invite anti graft agency to probe finances of local governments in the state.

The state deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu explained that any Head of Local Government Administration, (HOLGA), or council personnel involved in shady deals, resulting in the declining Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR) will be probed, arrested and dismissed from service.

The Deputy Governor, made the declaration in Benin City, during a meeting with HOLGAs and Local Government Liaison Officers. Also in attendance were leaders of the three recognized transport unions in the state.

According to Shaibu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), may be invited by Edo State Government to look into affairs of the Councils.

“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.

“The IGR profile of Egor Local Government alone is one million naira, while the remaining 17 Local Government Councils generated N2 million monthly. This is criminal and unacceptable to government.

“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.”

The Deputy Governor directed the council heads and Laison Officers to immediately constitute a credible revenue task force across the 18 councils to ensure proper collection of revenue for the purpose of accountability forthwith.