Lease on cattle market, revenues from quarries to be reviewed – Abia govt

The Abia State Government has said that the lease on the popular Lokpanta Cattle Market in Umunnochi LGA of the state will be reviewed by the new administration.

This is even as the state government has disclosed that revenues accruing from the market and quarry sites in Umunnochi LGA would be properly harmonised to block revenue leakages in line with Governor Alex Otti’s zero tolerance for fraud.

Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu made this known at Abia State Government House, Umuahia, during a crucial meeting he held with critical stakeholders on internally generated revenue in the state. He said the meeting’s purpose was to brainstorm on methodologies for enhancing the revenue profile of the state to ensure speedy infrastructural development in all the component areas to make life more meaningful for Abians.

He requested that permanent secretaries, directors of administration, and directors of finance of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) forward to his office detailed reports of their transactions.

Emetu disclosed that henceforth all the ministries in the state will have 20% of whatever revenue they generate, and directed the chairman of the state’s Board of Internal Revenue to provide the Office of the Deputy Governor details of the revenue windows available in the State, including haulage, emblems, special trade permits, daily tickets, and remuneration among others.

The deputy governor further said that the administration of Governor Alex Otti is focused on ensuring that Abia is removed from its financial mess. He encouraged the stakeholders to support Governor Otti.

Responding on behalf of the stakeholders, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Sam Egwu, promised that they will comply with all the policies of the new administration.