FCT minister tasks stakeholders to overtake Lagos in IGR

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, on Tuesday, charged all stakeholders involved in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) within the FCT to collaborate towards improving revenue in the nation’s capital and surpass Lagos State in terms of IGR.

Bello gave the charge while delivering a keynote address at a stakeholders retreat titled “Towards a Harmonized Revenue Management Framework in the FCT” at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

While underscoring the need for the FCT to up revenue generation, Bello said: “In a nutshell, the FCT is not faring 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 to consolidate and reposition on the right pedestal to even overtake Lagos in the area of 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 the 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,” Bello stated.

The minister who was represented by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, further pointed out that with its huge potentials and unique status as the seat of the Federal Government, the FCT should naturally do better.

He continued: “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.

“Our 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.

“Expectation from the public from us is huge and we are obligated to deliver on government promises. No one is willing to accept any excuses, neither is the FCT administration willing to entertain excuses.”

Commenting on the controversy surrounding the right of collection, Bello lamented that lack of trust and confrontational practice impedes the 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 taxations, and this greatly impacts adversely on our ease of doing business because it erodes confidence and builds discouragement instead of the other way round,” he said.

In his remarks, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu noted that tax collection was the most important function of government because, without it, the government will not be able to provide services like security, infrastructure and foreign relations, among others.

Represented by Lagos State Commissioner of Finance, Dr Rabiu Olowo, the governor disclosed that his state’s robust land use charge has harmonised all land-based revenue sources with local governments, which has also helped build its database and necessitates collaboration.

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