Revenue generation: Minister vows to deal with erring officers

The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has warned that she would not hesitate to deal decisively with any Secretariat, Department and Agency under her supervision that wants to sabotage the efforts of government in scaling up its Internally Revenue Generation (IGR).

She gave the warning at the weekend when she spoke from the sideline of 2020 budget preparation of the FCT administration.

Dr Aliyu, who noted that no responsible government could run the affairs of a megacity like Abuja with budgetary provisions, also frowned at the lukewarm attitude of some revenue based agencies in driving the process.

In a statement by her Special Assistant, Media, Mr Austine Elemue, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the minister further warned that she would deploy all constitutional means to punish any agency under her supervision who failed to comply with the renewed vigour of the present FCT administration to boost its revenue base.

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According to her: “You can quote me anywhere, I will be the first minister to discipline any erring agency or staff who want to sabotage government’s efforts in up-scaling Internally Revenue Generation (IGR) for the administration. This is not a threat to any agency or head of the agency, but I will use the Civil Service rules and regulations to discipline any erring secretariat or staff.

“It is shocking to me that despite numerous opportunities available to the administration to increase its revenue generation, some secretariats or departments are just interested in the meagre budgetary allocation from the federation account. How can we develop with this type of attitude?.

“And let me state unequivocally that no responsible government can manage a megacity like ours by depending on budgetary allocations. It is high time, they go out and look for the money to develop Abuja of our dreams.”

The minister expressed optimism that with the support she was getting from the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the administration would achieve a milestone in the revenue drive while calling on agencies to wake to their responsibilities.