Olawale Ajimotokan
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello, has challenged stakeholders to work towards improving the revenue generation in the nation’s capital and overtake Lagos State in subsequent generations.
The minister, who was represented by FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, handed the call while delivering a keynote address in Lagos, during a stakeholders’ retreat, “Towards a harmonized revenue management framework in the FCT”, stressing the need to improve in revenue generation.
“In a nutshell, the FCT is not fairing badly, but it is not yet uhuru because we are performing far below our set expectations in terms of revenue generation and I am confident this retreat will enable us consolidate and reposition on the right pedestal to even takeover Lagos in the area of internally generated revenue(IGR).
“Our IGR in terms of per capita last year actually placed us next to Lagos, ahead of Rivers State with N24,600 per person, Judging from FCT’s population estimates of 2006 census, inclusive of the five percent growth rate between 2016 and 2020. Rivers State places third with IGR per capita of N15,281.
“However, in terms of total amount of IGR for 2020, FCT generated little over N102 billion and was ranked third behind Rivers State, which realised N117.19 billion, “the minister said.
He noted that with its huge potentials and unique status as the seat of the federal government, the FCT should naturally do better in revenue generation.
“With the huge resources, we have in the FCT, if properly tapped and effectively managed, no one will see our back in revenue generation and we will not have to be running “cap-in-hand” to the Federal Government for allocation when we can actually raise these funds and take the Federal Allocation as additional income.
He said the FCT IGR alone should be more than adequate for self-sufficiency in the delivery of effective services and infrastructure, in line with global standards, for all residents, all Nigerians and visitors.
He averred that in light of public expectation the FCT has the obligation to deliver on government promises, adding the FCT Administration is not willing to entertain excuses.
Commenting on the controversy surrounding the right of collection, Bello identified lack of trust and confrontational practice as the major challenge hindering revenue collection process
“We are all aware of the challenges associated with claims over rights of revenue collection in the FCT and attendant issues of multiple taxation and this greatly impacts adversely on our ease of doing business because it erodes confidence and builds discouragement instead of another way round.”
Federal Capital Territory Aims to Overtake Lagos in IGR
