The Lagos State Government has replied Vice President Namadi Sambo over his accusation that the Lagos Government imposed heavy taxation on the citizens, saying the vice president deserved to be pitied as he has displayed gross ignorance.

On his recent visit to Lagos, Sambo declared that people were leaving Lagos in droves as a consequence of heavy taxation imposed by the state government.

Replying Sambo in statement, the State Government said it was no surprise at all that the steadfastness it had brought to the management of its Internally Generated Revenue and the attendant improved and consistent performance over the years would continue to be mind boggling for all those who did not appreciate the need to move from the past and adopt innovations in order to improve the lot of the society.

“The fact remains that Lagos, the economic and social hub of not just Nigeria, but the entire West African sub-region, continues to attract an inflow of people like the bee to the honey, in pursuit of their means of livelihood daily. For whatever it is worth, Arch. Namadi Sambo deserves to be pitied.

“If his itinerary coming on this trip in an election year had included the inspection, not even commissioning, of any ongoing ambitious programmes or projects initiated by the Federal Government for the good of the people of Lagos State, he may have been better preoccupied and avoided the gaffe,” the statement said.

The statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Lateef Raji explained that the government had for long realized that the state, with its enormous social and economic potentials, could not continue to depend on the allocation from the Federation Accounts if it must deliver on the popular expectations.

The statement said measures were then introduced to drive efficiency in the tax assessment and collection regimes by effectively plugging loopholes and leakages in the system, saying the result was the leap in the accruable to the coffers of the State Government.

“With this enhanced revenue profile, the government embarked on ambitious infrastructure upgrades to meet the critical areas of need like never experienced before. At any given time, not less than two hundred roads, not leaving out those of the Federal Government, are being executed.

“The Lagos State Government is not just “doing it” on the tube and the press; the testimonials abound all over the state for the people to see, feel and put to use. Without doubt, Sambo himself would have, during this visit, marvelled at the new look of Lagos even if he moved around all of his time in the city flying a helicopter,” it added.

According to the government, the lesson for the Federal Government in all of these was that if the Presidency could summon the will power to rein in its members and ensure that oil receipts and accruals from other revenue heads were properly accounted for and remitted to the Federation Accounts, Nigeria would be better and the citizens would be happy.

“If the Federal Government had avoided situations where individuals present claims in billions of hard-earned money spent on hotel accommodation, air travels and all other such excesses in diversion of public funds, the Nigerian economy will not be in the sorry state it is today and we would all have been better for it.

“Nigerians would have been better secured and the people wouldl feel the presence of government even in the remotest part of the country. The Vice President is not known for courting controversies, but as a junior partner in Nigeria’s uninspiring Presidency, he cannot but speak during public engagements. Rather than join the gabby gang in Abuja, simple greetings and a few compliments will do instead of making non-residential claims that are lacking in facts,” it stated.

“Now that he is back in Abuja, he can share his Lagos experience with his principal and impress on him without delay that the little sunshine left out there is still sufficient to hang fabrics out to dry.

“History will not forgive them for running a full course of four-year Presidency without any legacy. If they lack the capacity to contend with other complex challenges confronting the nation, they do not have to be geniuses to plant a block of classroom or a paediatric ward in each of Nigeria’s public primary schools or general hospitals in the remaining five months of their tenure to at least appease yet impressionable children,” the statement added.



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