Vice President, Namadi Sambo
The Lagos State Government has replied Nigeria’s Vice President Namadi Sambo over his accusation that people were leaving Lagos in droves as a result of heavy taxation imposed by the State Government.
In his recent visit to Lagos, Sambo had declared that people were leaving Lagos in droves as a consequence of heavy taxation imposed by the State Government.
However, the Lagos state government in a statement signed by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Raji Lateef, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government which the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, was part of, lacked viable message for the people of Lagos
The statement reads in part, “For whatever it is worth, Sambo deserves to be pitied. If his itinerary coming on this trip in an election year had included the inspection, not even commissioning, of any ongoing ambitious programmes or projects initiated by the Federal Government for the good of the people of Lagos State, he may have been better preoccupied and avoided the gaffe.”
“It will be good to share with him and his fellows a simple narrative of what was done differently in Lagos State. It is never too late to learn.”
The government said it had long realized that the state, with its enormous social and economic potentials, could not continue to depend on the allocation from the Federation Accounts if it must deliver on the popular expectations.
“It is no surprise at all that the steadfastness that the Lagos State Government has brought to the management of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the attendant improved and consistent performance over the years will continue to be mind boggling for all those who do not appreciate the need to move from the past and adopt innovations in order to improve the lot of the society.”
“The fact remains that Lagos, the economic and social hub of not just Nigeria, but the entire West African sub-region, continues to attract an inflow of people like the bee to the honey, in pursuit of their means of livelihood daily.”
“The Lagos State Government had for long realised that the state, with its enormous social and economic potentials, cannot continue to depend on the allocation from the Federation Accounts if it must deliver on the popular expectations. Measures were then introduced to drive efficiency in the tax assessment and collection regimes by effectively plugging loopholes and leakages in the system. The result was the leap in the accruable to the coffers of the State Government.”
“With this enhanced revenue profile, the government embarked on ambitious infrastructure upgrades to meet the critical areas of need like never experienced before. At any given time, not less than two hundred roads, not leaving out those of the Federal Government, are being executed.”
The release stated further that, “The Lagos State Government is not just “doing it” on the tube and the press; the testimonials abound all over the state for the people to see, feel and put to use.”
“Without doubt, Sambo himself would have, during this visit, marvelled at the new look of Lagos even if he moved around all of his time in the city flying a helicopter,” the statement added.
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