Aregbesola urges LGs to generate revenue, drive development

• Published date: 18 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola has urged Local Governments to generate revenue to drive development at that level.

This is contained in a statement issued by Aregbesola's Media Adviser, Mr Sola Fasure, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking at a one-Day dialogue with the theme, '2023 and Beyond: Tracking Campaign Promises for Good Governance' organised by NPO Reports in Abuja, the minister said:' local governments, though closest to the people are dependent on the federation account for funding.

'They really have no business waiting from handouts every month from the central government.

'The Local Councils must generate revenue to drive development at that level. No local government will be accountable with handouts. Charity doesn't make people responsible.'

Aregbesola advised that people of a locality must fund their local government.

This, he said when done, would enable them not to exact responsibility and accountability from that government.

'People can hardly hold a government accountable, whose funding they are not responsible for. This applies to state governments too.

'I ask myself, is local council a tier of government in a federation. Examples abound world over of countries that practice federal system like ours.

'In Australia, Germany, the U.S. and many others, there are only two tiers in a federal system which is usually the central and the regional governments. The local government is not one of them.'

Aregbesola's loyalists make Tinubu Campaign Council

The minister commended the organiser of the dialogue, Alhaji Semiu Okanlawon, CEO, Proumou Media Consulting Nigeria Ltd Editor-in-Chief/Publisher, NPO Reports for his professionalism.

He urged Okanlawon to continue to stand for the best tradition of responsible journalism.

'I am here in my capacity as ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and not as the Minister of Interior, and I will expect to be quoted as such.

'I came here because of my personal...