Boko Haram Insurgents, Not Bandits Attacking Niger – Gov. Bello

*Says Over 50 Villages Deserted Due To Bandits’
Attacks

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, has disclosed that no fewer than
50 villages in five Local Government Areas of the state have been
deserted due to bandits’ attacks.

The governor made the disclosure on Monday in Minna while
opening a two-day training workshop for local government directors
and revenue officers.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop has the
theme: ‘Strategies for Enhancing Internally Generated Revenue of
Local Governments in Niger State.’

It was organised by the state Local Government Service
Commission to explore ways of generating more revenue to tackle
development challenges including security and refugee problems.

“Presently, we have over 3,000 internally displaced persons
camping in Minna, aside the ones we have in local government areas.
Where do we get the resources to take care of them?

“It is time we cut down on our expenditure, come together to see
how we can address issues of ghost workers and those looting the
state of its resources,” he said.

He warned that the government would not hesitate to do away with
those who were not adding value to the system.

Bello noted that the workshop was coming at a time when nations
and the country were witnessing drastic fall in revenue earnings
because of the COVID-19 and insecurity.

According to him, the present revenue being generated cannot
sustain the state’s developmental aspirations.

He therefore said government must work within the law to augment
the dwindling revenue collection to finance its activities.

Bello stressed that the state would no longer continue to
borrow, just to survive.

The governor particularly said that the government would not
sustain the situation in most local governments who cannot survive
without augmentation from others because of ghost workers.

He advised the participants to pay attention and contribute to
developing strategies of enhancing IGR at local government
levels.

Earlier, Alhaji Mohammed Dabban, Chairman of the Commission,
said there was increased pressure for government officials to be
accountable in management of finances.

He called on participants to learn from the vast experience of
the resource persons to improve revenue collection and their
performance.

In his welcome address, Mr Nuhu Ngaski, Permanent Secretary of
the commission said the workshop was to expose the participants to
the revenue profile of each local government council in the
state.

Malam Haruna Yahaya, a resource person, said the workshop was to
ascertain the revenue profile of local councils and develop
comprehensive strategies to enhance generation.

He said that the objective was also to promote transparency and
accountability.

*Says Over 50 Villages Deserted Due To Bandits’
Attacks

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, has disclosed that no fewer than
50 villages in five Local Government Areas of the state have been
deserted due to bandits’ attacks.

The governor made the disclosure on Monday in Minna while
opening a two-day training workshop for local government directors
and revenue officers.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop has the
theme: ‘Strategies for Enhancing Internally Generated Revenue of
Local Governments in Niger State.’

It was organised by the state Local Government Service
Commission to explore ways of generating more revenue to tackle
development challenges including security and refugee problems.

“Presently, we have over 3,000 internally displaced persons
camping in Minna, aside the ones we have in local government areas.
Where do we get the resources to take care of them?

“It is time we cut down on our expenditure, come together to see
how we can address issues of ghost workers and those looting the
state of its resources,” he said.

He warned that the government would not hesitate to do away with
those who were not adding value to the system.

Bello noted that the workshop was coming at a time when nations
and the country were witnessing drastic fall in revenue earnings
because of the COVID-19 and insecurity.

According to him, the present revenue being generated cannot
sustain the state’s developmental aspirations.

He therefore said government must work within the law to augment
the dwindling revenue collection to finance its activities.

Bello stressed that the state would no longer continue to
borrow, just to survive.

The governor particularly said that the government would not
sustain the situation in most local governments who cannot survive
without augmentation from others because of ghost workers.

He advised the participants to pay attention and contribute to
developing strategies of enhancing IGR at local government
levels.

Earlier, Alhaji Mohammed Dabban, Chairman of the Commission,
said there was increased pressure for government officials to be
accountable in management of finances.

He called on participants to learn from the vast experience of
the resource persons to improve revenue collection and their
performance.

In his welcome address, Mr Nuhu Ngaski, Permanent Secretary of
the commission said the workshop was to expose the participants to
the revenue profile of each local government council in the
state.

Malam Haruna Yahaya, a resource person, said the workshop was to
ascertain the revenue profile of local councils and develop
comprehensive strategies to enhance generation.

He said that the objective was also to promote transparency and
accountability.