Hope Uzodinma Takes Over Control OF IGR For LGAs, Sign MOU
The Imo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the 27 Interim Management Committee, IMC, Chairmen of the Local Government Areas in the state on a new policy of the state government collecting revenues on behalf of the Local Government Areas. The policy is said to provide measures at improving Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state.
In a meeting with the council chairmen at the State Secretariat Owerri, the Commissioner of Finance, Chuck Chukemeka, said the MoU is in the right direction so as to move the state forward and increase the IGR of the state, insisting that the Covid-19 pandemic which affected world economy has made it necessary to look inwards and maximize the IGR potentials of the state.
Speaking further, the Commissioner said that the MoU is Mon overdue as Governor Hope Uzodimma has already set up a six-man committee, comprising of three men from the LGAs and the state government respectively, to harmonize and work out a modality to ensure that all revenues accruing to state are captured, saying this synergy has become necessary as the LGAs stand to gain and improve their own revenues.
In his words: “My happiness is that the documents (MoU) have been signed by the IMC Chairmen and Chairman of all Chairmen. It goes to show the level of cooperation between the state and the LGAs.”
Also speaking at the meeting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Ruby Emele, commended the council chairmen for their understanding and cooperation, saying that the MoU means so much for the state government.
She said that there will be a technical and sensitization meeting to further harmonize ideas that will raise the revenue of the state urging all to support the good intentions of the government.
Present at the meeting were the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Chairman Imo Revenue Service, IRS, Special Adviser to the governor on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, Special Adviser to the governor on Finance, Chairman of all Chairmen amongst others. They all pledged to work in tandem to actualize the objectives of the MoU and to ensure that the process was transparent.
