**meet with revenue contrators
By Lawrence Mpama
In order to meet the revenue target needed for the development and expansion of economic activities of the local government, the Mayor of Calabar Municipality, Apostle James Anam, has met with the chairmen and secretaries of the various Revenue generating agencies in Calabar Municipality.
Apostle James Anam stated that revenue collection in Calabar Municipality was in a serious mess, hence the need to take a second look and do something about it, So as to change the narrative. He announced the intention of his Administration to introduce a new and radical approach to revenue generation, adding that it will no longer be business as usual where people work for their pockets. Apostle Anam said Council will soon contract major revenue points to consultants, and the revenue so generated will be used to develop infrastructure in Calabar Municipality.
The Mayor expressed his administration’s resolve to set up a 6 man high powered revenue generation committee, to verify all revenue points within Municipality. The Committee is headed by the Vice Chairman of Calabar Municipal Council, Pastor Okon Nyong, with the Council Secretary, Comrade Iso Bassey Edim as Secretary, while Chief Bassey Effiom, Hon. Ntete Ita, Hon. Thomas Edem, and Hon. Emmanuel Inok are to serve as members.
The Mayor went further to states that, major reorganization was going to be carried out to stop the business as usual approach to revenue generation in Calabar Municipality and ginger how business was being conducted at the Ika-Ika Oqua Market, adding that a lot of illegal structure at the Market will be demolished to enhance free flow of vehicular and human traffic. He said the priority of his Administration will be to ensure that the dividends of democracy gets to the people.
In her remarks, the Head of Local Government Administration, HOLGA, for Calabar Municipality, Mrs Ekanem Henshaw, stated that the meeting has become necessary to chart a new course for revenue generation in the Municipality. She averred that the current level of revenue generation by the revenue contractors was very disappointing, and cannot meet up with the demands for the speedy development needed in the council.
Some revenue contractors who spoke praised the bold initiatives by the Mayor and promised to support the innovations being introduced to boost internally generated revenue in the Municipality.
Lawrence Mpama is the Publisher and Managing Editor of Cross Atlantic Newspapers, former Editor of Watchman Magazine.
