Governor Bello Matawalle has lamented that the monthly revenue collection of Zamfara state is as low as (450M).
The Governor who stated this while trying to justify reasons for the non implementation of the (N30,000) minimum wage to state civil servants said if the revenue generating agencies are doing up to the expectations and more revenues are generated, government has no reasons for not implementing the new minimum wage.
“Our monthly IGR collection is as low as (450M) and as Governor if you put too much pressure for people to pay revenue many complaints would be all over”.
“Last time someone wanted to move with grains out of Zamfara state and people from the Board of Internal Revenue went to collect tax, the next thing I saw was a text message that people from board of internal revenue are going to destroy your government”.
“Go to our neighborhood states of Niger and see anything you want to buy you must pay revenue to the government of Niger, but here in our case the story is different”.
He further said his government is passionate about issuing car loans to senior civil servants, especially directors, but noted that the initiative could have not succeeded without the cooperation of the workers.
“Five months back we have issued out car loans to judges and other category of state civil servants and believe me up till now deduction has not started and this is government money, but there is nothing we can do”.
He also tasked the labour union to put pressure on the operation of the revenue generating agencies so that more revenues can be generated noting that, if the situation improves, the government is ready to sacrifice (80%) of what was collected to the welfare of the state workers.