By Victor Nwegede
Ebonyi government has stopped making payment of any internally generated revenue (IGR) by cash due to the report on leakages of revenues in the state.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Orji Uche Orji stated this while briefing newsmen on the outcomes of today's Executive Council meeting at the Old Government House, Abakaliki.
Orji said the decision by the State Executive Council on the stoppage of the IGR payment by cash took effect from today and any offender caught would be punished.
"Exco considered the report on leakages of revenues in the state and resolved that with effect from 24th March, 2021 and in line with the relevant laws of the state, it shall be an offence in Ebonyi State for anybody to make payment in respect of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by cash and anybody that does that will pay 200% value of the revenue sought to be paid and shall be prosecuted," he stated.
Orji earlier said that the Executive Council frowned at the renewed communal crises in some parts of the state.
According to him, "Exco received a briefing on the situation of Effium/Ezza Effium, Abaomege/Isinkwo,and Enyibichiri/Enyigba communities and frowned at the renewed attack and counter attack between Effium/Ezza Effium community, including false alarm raised by stakeholders on the situation of things in the area. EXCO noted the progress made in the demarcation of the boundary between the two communities and resolved to invite the stakeholders of Effium/Ezza Effium and Abaomege/Isinkwo communities on Monday 29th March, 2021."
He also stated that the Executive Council has received the report on rising spate of fake land documents that fly everywhere in Ebonyi State, stressing that "many a time they would take it to the bank for facility and it would be turned down."
He added that the "Exco also observed with dismay that some people who served as land officials in the past still sign and back-date land documents for unsuspecting members of the public."
The Executive Council in his words, noted that 'revalidation of Certificates of Occupancy and Land documents in the state would put a permanent stop to this ugly trend and that this measure would also resolve the issue of two persons laying claim to one land document. EXCO resolved therefore that the state government do constitute a committee in April 2021 to handle the processes of land document revalidation.'
He further noted that the Exco has raised concern on the collapsed stadium fence and however, set up a 4-man committee chaired by Engr. Muhammad Idris to verify the cause with his members including Hon. Chike Ogiji, Engr. Otta Felix, and Engr. Obinna Ibaki.
The Commissioner said the Exco charged the committee to work with the terms of reference including to verify the total work done, total work yet to be done, the length and value of fence that collapsed, the reason for the collapse and its report to be submitted within seven (7) days on the cause of the incident.
NATIONAL PANEL also gathered that the
Exco received a report on the four (4) staff of the state Ministry of Power and their cronies who connived to steal several quantities of diesel meant to power the street lights.
But Barr Orji said that the Exco has resolved that a disciplinary committee be set up to try, dismiss and prosecute the suspects accordingly and that the owner of the house used in perpetrating this sabotage be made to pay the sum of five million Naira (N5 Million) as a punitive measure or the house be sealed, saying this will serve as deterrence to others.
He disclosed that the Exco has approved the construction of the Parking Lot of the Airport with the first phase at N949, 314,000, second phase - N 950 Million while the third phase - lift and escalators at N643 million.
Also approved by the Exco were N952 million for the airport flyover and N978 million for Edda Flyover for phase 2 - meant for the ground floor, foundation and pillars in the state.
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