By Bashir Rabe Mani
Gusau – Alhaji Bala Kokani, Sokoto state Commissioner for Budget and Economic has called on tax evaders in the country to eschew the attitude to help Nigeria recover from economic recession.
He made the call on Thursday at a three-day workshop, organised by a USAID-assisted Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy and Development (LEAD), Project being implemented in Sokoto and Bauchi states.
He also urged the three tiers of government to improve on their internal revenue generation.
Represented by Alhaji Shehu Dogon-Daji, Director of International Corporations in the ministry commissioner said:” It is highly regrettable that most Nigerians are not willing to pay taxes and revenues.
” Unfortunately, most of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) would be asking for annual increment of allocations, meaning that they only spend.”
Kokani said that the earlier the ”ugly situation” was redressed the better for Nigerians.
He stressed that improved revenue generation remained key to taking Nigeria out of recession.
On the workshop, the commissioner said that it was aimed at appraising the implementation of the 2016 budget in the state to ensuring optimal performance of the state’s 2017 budget.
”Efforts would be sustained to ensure that the 2017 budget in the state works, barring all factors.”
Also speaking, the House Leader, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Garba Bello, promised that ” the assembly will make necessary efforts to boost revenue generation in the state.”
The workshop has the theme:”2016 Sokoto State Budget Performance Review and Public Hearing on 2017 Budget Workshop