Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano, has called on citizens of the state to pay taxes promptly to enable the government to execute more developmental projects.
He made the call on Thursday while commissioning the reconstructed Yusuf and Kwairanga roads in Nassarawa GRA, Kano metropolis.
He especially called on wealthy individuals to pay ground rent for their mansions, as well as other taxes to the government promptly, pointing out that is no longer feasible for his administration to rely on the Federation Account.
The governor explained that a sizeable number the most of the projects being executive by his administration are funded with internally generated revenue, lamenting that since he assumed office last year, the state’s Federal allocation has dropped by 60 percent.
He stressed that the only option of the government is to source money by taxing the rich in order to serve the poor, adding that without alternative sources of funds, the state government can hardly pay its workers’ salaries punctually and execute viable projects.
On the Kwairanga road, Governor Ganduje announced that government spent N199 million of tax payer’s money to renovate the road and three others adjacent ones, expressing satisfaction that the contractor has done very qualitative work.
The governor also inspected ongoing renovation of Zaria road, which was awarded by immediate past government and continued by present administration at the cost of N5billion.
He also inspected the laying of asphalt along the sides of Ado Bayero flyover, along Zaria road, which was awarded not too long ago by the state government in order to ease traffic congestion in the area.
In related development, Governor Ganduje has commissioned two combined harvesters and Wheat cleaning, grading and sorting machines at Maganda store, purchased at the cost of N10 million and N20 million respectively, for the benefit of wheat farmers in the state.
ALSO READ Notore Remains Committed To Boosting Nigeria’s Power Supply
The governor said that the facilities would assist farmers to minimize loss of produce, adding that the machines would equally add value to their farm output in local and international markets.
He noted that due to the support given to wheat farmers by his government, the market price of the commodity has appreciated, recalling that present N200 million was set aside by the state government to purchase excess wheat from the farmers in order to stabilize its price.
(Today.ng)
