Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

ADP urges more transparency in Lagos State revenue, debt profiles

By Adaku Onyenucheya
08 August 2018   |   4:35 am
Lagos State chapter of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has urged the state government to be more transparent and accountable in reporting its revenues and debt profiles to its citizens.

Lagos Revenue House, Alausa, Ikeja

Lagos State chapter of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has urged the state government to be more transparent and accountable in reporting its revenues and debt profiles to its citizens.

It said the state government should adopt ‘an open government’ initiative, saying it owes the people a duty to render accounts of its stewardship and how their resources are being managed.

The party also charged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to publish the state’s budgets and audited accounts with line items on national dailies, electronic media and the state government’s website for the public to know what was actually generated and what was being spent.

According to the party, the state government has several domestic and foreign debts, which the Debt Management Office (DMO) has estimated at over $1.466 billion, saying, Lagos with the highest internally generated revenue (IGR) in the country should not have such a huge debt if the resources it generates are judiciously used.

“As we already know, massive corruption, award of phony contracts, quest to satisfy godfathers, leakages and a culture of waste are responsible for the high debt profile in the state,” it stated.

Meanwhile, the party also cautioned senators representing the state at the National Assembly against alleged move to stop the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Chairmanship slot for Lagos.

In a statement by its Chairman, Nasir Adewale Bolaji and its Publicity Secretary, Adelaja Adeoye, it alleged that there was a plot by the senators to stop the confirmation of Muiz Banire (SAN), a former National Legal Adviser of the party, who was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari for the chairmanship of AMCON.

It argued that Banire’s nomination and attempts to stop him was an opportunity being threatened by those who would rather destroy everything just to score cheap political points for their personal gains.Stopping the confirmation, they further stated, may not be unconnected with Banire’s disagreement with a National Leader of the party.

“As a party concerned with the progress of Lagos State, we find it disturbing that lawmakers elected to serve the interest of the state have descended so low as to abandon their duties to serve the interest of their godfather alone. “It is our party’s opinion that personal political feud between the two leaders should not be allowed to affect the overall interests of Lagosians. Our party has become the main opposition political party in Lagos because of our steady resolve and determination to take power from those who have held the state down for too long,” the statement reads.

The party, however, urged the three senators to withdraw their rejection of Banire’s confirmation as Chairman of AMCON, noting that stopping him would be a direct assault on the state and its people.

0 Comments