IGR: FCT minister vows to sanction saboteurs

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has warned that she will 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 internal revenue generation. She gave the warning over the weekend, when she spoke on the sidelines […]

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has warned that she will 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 internal revenue generation.

She gave the warning over the weekend, when she spoke on the sidelines of 2020 budget preparation of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Aliyu, who noted that no responsible government can run the affairs of a mega city like Abuja with budgetary provisions, also frowned at the lukewarm attitude of some revenue generating agencies in driving the process.

The minister further warned that she will deploy all constitutional means to punish any agency under her supervision that fails to comply with the renewed vigour of the present FCT Administration to boost its revenue base.

“I will be the first minister to discipline any erring agency or staff who wants 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 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 merger budgetary allocation from the federation account. How can we develop with this type of attitude,” she said.

Aliyu, expressed optimism that with the support she is getting from the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the Administration will achieve a milestone in the revenue drive, while calling on agencies to wake up to their responsibilities.