Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has warned local government council chairmen to monitor activities of revenue collectors against multiple taxation to reduce the burden of fuel subsidy removal on the people.
Oborevwori made the call Wednesday when the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Delta State Chapter led by Hon. Victor Ebonka, paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.
He said that people were facing serious hardship following removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government and cautioned council chairmen against multiple taxation and avoid taxing the people more at this critical time.
Oborevwori said; “funding remains a challenge in our local government councils. It is our hope that with the removal of the fuel subsidy, more monies will be accrued to the local governments and states.
“But until such happens, we urge you to be very prudent and creative in the management of your resources. Even though taxes are pertinent sources of council’s revenue, I want to assure you that the conflicting issues and laws will be handled.
“With the hardship we are facing now with this subsidy removal, I want to appeal to you to talk to your people, your agents and tax collectors not to impose unnecessary taxes on our people.
“There are a lot of expections from our people and at this time, we need to manage them, see how much we are buying fuel now. We are looking for how we can provide palliative for our people.”
He tasked the councils to take seriously the issues of environmental sanitation and sustainability, adding that “operation keep Delta state clean is a collective responsibility of all.
Earlier, Hon. Ebonka appealed to the Governor to look into conflicting laws regarding building permits, sanitation and waste management even as he lauded the Governor for assisting them to work out modalities to defray pension liabilities owed local government pensioners and retired primary school teachers.
