The Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has sacked all consultants to the state government on revenue collections.
The Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, disclosed this at a news conference in Lokoja on Thursday.
According to him, the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, in a memo issued from the office of the Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, ordered that the appointments of all Consultants on Revenue Collections in the State through Ministries, Departments, or Agencies (MDAs) are hereby terminated with immediate effect.
“To this end, you are hereby requested to inform all Consultants engaged by your MDA, and please ensure that necessary measures are put in place to nip in the bud all revenue leakages in the State,” he stated.
He further explained that the state government had begun a clampdown on criminal elements collecting revenue illegally across the State.
He expressed dismay over the continuous blockage of roads by some individuals claiming to be collecting revenue for the state.
The governor vowed to block all leakages in the system and ensure that those involved in this illegal act will be punished.
He warned that those collecting revenue illegally are a security threat to the state. According to him, the present administration remains committed to boosting its revenue drive and developing the State.
The board chairman who lamented about the collection of illegal revenue by some fraudulent individuals said, “It is only in Kogi that an individual will create a toll gate and start collecting revenue. We are happy a new law has criminalized this dubious act.
“There was a time I went to one local government area, the road was blocked. I came down with my entourage and discovered that the receipt they were issuing out was from the local government and not the State. I called the DLG, and he said he was aware. I asked where the money was going, and he said he didn’t know.”
The new administration under Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has given a directive to put an end to this sharp practice of these individuals whom he described as “enemies of our State. Today, we are swinging into action because these people are not working for us but for their selfish interests.”
He warned that anyone caught short-changing the government would be arrested and prosecuted.
