Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday hailed
tax payers in the State for performing their civic obligations faithfully,
saying the State recorded more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2016 than
what was recorded in 2015 despite economic recession in the country.
As at December 16, 2016 the State had raked in N287billion
IGR for the year under review as against N268.2billion generated in 2015.
Speaking at a special evening of music and camaraderie held
at the Lagos House, Ikeja, to usher in the Yuletide season, Governor Ambode said
the taxes paid by the people have been judiciously utilized to upgrade
infrastructures and provide various services, just as he said that Lagosians
deserved to be appreciated for cooperating with government in that regard.
Speaking on the significance of the event which featured
performances by array of evergreen musicians and was attended by top political
leaders, captains of industries, media executives, professionals in various
fields, members of the diplomatic corps, among others, Governor Ambode said the
State Government was greatly appreciative of the contributions of the people to
the growth of the State in the year under review, adding that the event was
principally to appreciate them.
He said: “You wonder what it is that we are doing? We said
it is an evening with the Governor but the truth is I just set this up to
appreciate all of you and to say a big thank you. Yes, people have been saying
that Lagos is working but Lagos is only working because of the people who are
seated here.
“The tax payers are the ones giving us the little energy
that we have and even though when they say Nigeria is in recession, but somehow
Lagos has been able to do it and it is because people are paying their taxes.
“The truth is that the people have been carrying out their
civic obligations and somehow we have been returning those obligations with the
services that we have provided and you found out that this year; we have
actually made more IGR than last year under a recession.
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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), with Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Hassan Babatunde Fasinro; All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former Interim National Chairman, APC, Chief Bisi Akande during an evening of music and camaraderie with the Governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Sunday, December 18, 2016
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“So, somehow, we need to appreciate all the people that have
made this to happen and then I look at the way I could use Arts, Entertainment,
Tourism and Hospitality not only to promote the excellence that Lagos has
always been known for but to provide another sector of revenue for Lagos State
and I felt one of the ways to go about that was to invite our old celebrities
that we seem to have forgotten and spend an evening with them,” Governor Ambode
said.
The event was attended by top leaders including National
Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Governor of
State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat
Oluranti Adebule; Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed;
former Governors of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Isiaka Adeleke;
former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; Majority Leader of House of
Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senator representing Lagos West at the
Senate and his predecessor, Solomon Adeola Olamilekan and Ganiyu Olanrewaju
Solomon respectively; Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru
Obasa; Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; South West APC
Women Leader, Chief Kemi Nelson; Iyalode of Lagos, Alhaja Binta Tinubu, among
others.
Some of the legendary musicians that performed at the event
include Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Sir Shina Peters, Lagbaja,
Queen Salawa Abeni and Adewale Ayuba.
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