A government that is prudent with state resources and has financial accountability will never panic over not FINISHING WELL.
It will not be shaken by a dwindling allocation or economy because its administration of resources can be adjusted or modified to suit present reality.
The state government wants the people to bear the burden of FINISHING WELL and still wants to maintain the same frequency of government’s expenditure.
By Osaze Prince Edigin
The Executive Council of Edo state government engaged in a three day retreat in Abuja recently. From the news report, one could understand the purpose of the retreat.
It is now very clear to the state government that, it has 12 months to wind up and also prove to the people that there still exists a government in Edo state.
The major thrust of the retreat is to FINISH WELL. This was made audible, listening to the various speakers at the retreat including the state governor.
It is even more glaring that the state government appears not to be felt by the people like when it came on board.
When this government came, every single Edo man could feel the presence of a government in place – there were massive construction, rehabilitation, beautification and abolition of several illegal ticketing in the state.
An average Edo man was very proud of the government in place. What has happened?
The government of the day just woke up from its slumber recently and realized that it is already failing in all the turnaround moves it started and it is just 12 months to go.
And the questions wagging in its mind is what can we be remembered for? Another hypertensive concern the government has, is next year’s gubernatorial election.
The question now, is what do we have on ground to show to Edo people as achievements for the past eight years we manned the administration of the state?
The most worrisome of them all is what legacy will this government leave behind and be remembered for years to come.
All these put together informed the Executive Council’s retreat in Abuja in a quest to finishing well which ultimately will result to finishing the people.
FINISHING THE PEOPLE:
There has never been a time since the inception of this administration that they have been characterized with the crazy drive for revenue generation.
You will recall that the government in a bid to finishing well having realized that nothing is virtually happening in the state as regard capital and social development has resorted to transferring the burden to the common Edo man by way of all manner of taxes and levies.
Primary among the tactics employed by the state government is the faceoff between the Lorry Drivers and the accredited state government tax consultant.
The state House of Assembly had come up to mediate on the matter that has lasted for months, directing the Tipper Drivers to resume work while a lasting solution would be worked out.
In a swift reaction, the state governor insisted that, it must be the state government accredited tax consultant or nothing.
As I write this, construction activities have assumed its barest ebb; building development is stunted across the state.
In another close development is the protest embarked upon by Cement and building material dealers in the state who complained of high and unbearable increase in their taxes by government agents.
The very recent brouhaha in the state is the insistence of the state government to start the implementation of the Land Use Charge which was passed into law in 2012 but resisted by the Civil Society and the Nigerian Bar Association, Edo state chapter who took the administration to court. The matter is still pending in court.
The state government has gone ahead in serving Demand Notices to property owners in a bid to quickly collect the Land Use Charge so as to finish well not minding whether the people are finished.
There was one other interesting episode that got me rolling on the floor; this has to do with a Demand Notice served on buildings by the state Ministry of Transport for the purpose of paying for Fire Fighting Services.
It was when the governor’s attention was drawn to it, with the realization that it amounted to quest for Internally Generated Revenue driven too far that he cancelled it.
Now that the state government wants to FINISH WELL, the people may have to bear the heavy burden; the government is thinking daily of how to FINISH PEOPLE in order to FINISH WELL.
All manner of taxes and levies with different tickets are being imposed on the people, multiple taxation has become the order of the day.
The people are groaning, the state government in recent time has laid off staff of the Edo Employment Scheme which had at least 12, 000 in its employment. What is the fate of those jobless youths and the implication on the society by extension?
A government that is prudent with state resources and has financial accountability will never panic over not FINISHING WELL.
It will not be shaken by a dwindling allocation or economy because its administration of resources can be adjusted or modified to suit present reality.
The state government wants the people to bear the burden of FINISHING WELL and still wants to maintain the same frequency of government’s expenditure.
It has refused to cut down expenses, it has refused to cut down salaries and allowances of political office holders, it has also refused to reduce the number of Aides in its cabinet.
The people are the essence of a government, when the people are FINISHED then there is no need for a government.
The government should reconsider its current drive for revenue generation so as not to FINISH the people in the process.
Government is continuum, the people remains, it should do the ones it can do and leave the undone for the next administration.
Osaze Prince Edigin is a Civil Society Activist and Public Affairs Analyst, writing from Benin City Edo State of Nigeria.
It is a political game that they play! We are the victim of everything. Thanks you sir for speaking for us.