WHY I SHUNNED GOOD GOVERNANCE TOUR - OSHIOMHOLE

By NBF News

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole yesterday said the resources accruable to the state cannot accommodate the expenses of hosting theĀ  minister of information, Labaran Maku and his good governance tour team.

Comrade Oshiomhole said the decision of the state to turn down the team's invitation to inspect the state and federal projects was part of measures by his administration to cut expenses.

He disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting on tax matters put in place by the state judiciary in collaboration with board of internal revenue held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Oshiomhole who noted that the state was billed to take sole responsibility of the team's accommodation, entertainment and security said he was only accountable to the people of the state. 'Why Should I take Edo State tax payers money to finance federal project. I don't need Abuja to help me tell Edo people what I m doing in the state .Any time the state official goes for official duty in Abuja , the state takes responsibility of his expenses. So, I expect federal government to finance its officials,'' he said.

Governor Oshiomhole however said he would not refuse to receive them on courtesy call should the team decide to pay him official visit while in the state.

While soliciting the cooperation of the judiciary in the present tax regime, theĀ  governor said the state was able to save a whooping sum of N5 billion, N450 million monthly between 2007 - 2009 when he took over the mantle of leadership in its resolve to eliminate waste and reduce government expenditure.

He said the state had equally earmarked 80 per cent of its entire budgetary allocation on capital expenditure and devoted only 40 per cent to recurrent expenditure different from what was obtainable in the previous administrations.