Lagos government adopts online payment, bans revenue collection in cash
- Lagos state government has banned cash payment in revenue collection
- The state governor said the move is aimed at improving on service delivery and to block revenue leakages
- The ban will be effective from March 1, 2018
Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has banned all cash payment to civil servants in revenue collection across the state with effect from March 1, 2018.
The governor issued the ban order on Monday, February 19, after paying his Land Use Charge at the Opebi branch of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Ikeja, Lagos, in the presence of top management staff of the bank, Channels TV reports.
Legit.ng gathered that the governor said the measure is aimed at improving on service delivery to residents of the state and to block revenue leakages.
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Governor Ambode said the transaction process in revenue collection has now been made easy for the people as they can now pay every day, any time and online.
He said: “In order to ensure that the government improves on the quality of service delivery to our people, effective from 1st March, 2018, no payment or taxes will be made by cash henceforth across the State.
“Tax payers should be able to pay all legitimate bills through all payment channels at their own time and convenience. The transaction process is now going to be every day, anytime and no weekends.
“We should be able to pay our taxes from any bank, any branch using webpay, paypoint and USSD, thereby encouraging mobile money without any contact with government officials. I repeat, every kobo counts; do not pay into wrong hands anymore.”
The governor further explained that he led the payment of Land Use Charge as a way of leading by example.
He said the state government could not preach and promise prosperity without ‘working the talk’.
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“Today, what we are doing is to back up our talk with our work. The State Government cannot be promising prosperity in the future without investing in the future. I have just invested my quota by paying my Land Use Charge and I ask all residents and citizens to join me by courageously making a decision for prosperity and pay all their due taxes.
“Just as I paid, instantly, I received my receipt as evidence of payment which shows that every kobo I have invested is going directly to the Lagos State Government account.
“Lagosians, with your full support, there is evidence that every kobo paid in taxes has been productively utilised in infrastructural renewal and development of this State in the last two and half years,” Governor Ambode said.
He directed all the local government areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to adjust their tax collection machines to also eliminate all leakages.
Legit.ng previously reported that Governor Ambode's administration on Monday, February 12, approved the extension of the ongoing reconstruction of the International Airport Road to Ladipo International Market axis along Oshodi Apapa Expressway.
The administration also announced plans to construct a pedestrian bridge at the Toyota Bus Stop in response to the yearnings of traders and residents of the area, with the contractor expected to begin work on soon.
Governor Ambode, who disclosed this during an extensive inspection of ongoing projects across the state, said the extension was to complement the airport road reconstruction in line with the regeneration of the entire Oshodi axis.
Ambode's second term is shaking, says Lagos woman - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
