Revenue collection: Commissioner dialogues with council, community BENIN CITY – Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Oil and Gas, Ambassador Orobosa Omo-Ojo (JP) yesterday in Benin City held a meeting with the Chairman of Ovia South West Local Government Area, Hon. Moris Ogunorobo-Ovia and the Solicitors of Evbonogbon Community in the council area over revenue collection from solid minerals operators. The meeting, which is to broker a truce between the local government and Evbonogbon, is a follow-up to a petition written to the State Commissioner for Environment and Public Utility and the state governor directed him to take charge of the controversy. Ambassador Omo-Ojo dwelt extensively on the functions of local government as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and advised Evbonogbon to do a certified letter of the Community Development Association (CDA) to the ministry. While giving assurance that the matter would be resolved amicably without any victor or vanquished, the Commissioner enjoined Evbonogbon community to help the council. Asserting that the Local Government has supervisory power over the community, the Chairman of Ovia South West Local Government Area, Hon. Ogunorobo-Ovia hinted that he had visited the Enogie of Evbonogbon on the issue that there was an understanding between him and the Enogie. Based on the needs assessment of the area, Hon. Ogunorobo-Ovia emphasised that he had to explore areas and modalities of generating revenue for the council especially as his aim was to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Speaking on behalf Evbonogbon community, G.A. Revhiegie Esq. narrated challenges the community had faced with respect to revenue collected from solid minerals operators and that the council authority has stopped the community from the revenue.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 11:24:20 +0000