Bida Generates N2.5m IGR Monthly
Alhaji Bagudu Sadiq, the Chairman, Bida Local Government Area in Niger, says his council’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) stands at N2.5 million monthly.
Sadiq, who disclosed this in Minna on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, said the council was generating N750, 000 before he assumed office in 2016.
He said that the introduction of by-laws and an overhaul of the revenue units helped to turn around the council’s financial fortunes.
“I had to go through the legislature to initiate by- laws that would guide our internally generated revenue because before l came on board we were generating just about N750, 000 monthly.
“But now we generate about N2.5million per month following the introduction of the by-laws and some changes we made among the staff of the revenue units.
“We can only get better given the efforts we have made to improve our revenue profile,” he said.
He supported the push for autonomy for local governments, saying this would accelerate development at the grassroots in the country.
“Local governments should be given full financial, administrative and political autonomy because it is a good thing.
“Autonomy for local government is the only way any meaningful development can take place at the grassroots,” he said.
He appealed to the state Houses of Assembly to support the autonomy when the National Assembly sends the bill to them for their contributions.
The chairman, however, called for a review of the indices used in allocating funds to local government councils in the country.
“There are lots of issues within this autonomy that need to be reconsidered such as the indices used in allocating these funds.
“The percentage being given to land mass and terrain is so meagre that some councils in urban centres are not getting enough funds,” he said. (NAN)
