The commissioner noted that Abia State monthly receivable allocation has gone down too low from about N4.2billion which was being received about fifteen months ago which includes inter allia; SURE-P, excess crude derivatives to N1.9billion as received few days ago as an allocation from the federal government. The commissioner stated that just like every other State of the Federation, Abia State is not detached from the effect of the shortfall but expressed optimism that Government will do all within it’s powers to keep the promises made to Abia people.
Reacting to the issues bordering on the payment of pensions and gratuities, Mr. Oriaku noted that having identified some grey areas the Government stopped the payment of pensioneers by sub-treasuries, a situation where these old citizen come and queue under a mango tree to receive their pay and expressed hope that with the efforts of the committee embedded with the responsibility of the payment and with the automation of the payment process, all those whose payments were delayed will start getting their monies paid into their accounts soon.
The commissioner charged social institutions such as the religious institutions to pilot the campaign for tax payment by the citizens of the State as obtainable in the scriptures, citing the intervention of some general overseers of some churches in Lagos State whose efforts culminated in the compliance of tax payment which has in no small measures yielded an upturn in the Internally Generated Revenue IGR of the State today adding that apart from necessary flying process, the government has automated the tax payment processes thereby making tax payment seamless for taxpayers.
He expressed satisfaction that whereas businesses which were moribund such as International Glass Industry Aba (IGI) has been revamped, Abia State gross demotic produce GDP is hopefully going to supplement what is accrued from the center and called on many other business conglomerates who used Abia as their regional hub whose businesses are yet to return fully to the State to take advantage of the Government incentives to come and build their businesses again as the market is more favourable in the State.
Mr. Oriaku maintained that as one of the pillars of the Abia State Government, the State is looking the way of Agriculture to be a main stay of the economy and called on public private partners to invest in the State and take advantage of the new improved species of cocoa and Palm seedlings.
0 comments:
Post a Comment