Ogun State government at the weekend attributed its current status as Nigeria’s leading Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) state to the economic policies introduced by Governor Dapo Abiodun upon taking over the mantle of leadership of the state in May 2019.
The state commissioner for finance, Dapo Okubadejo stated this yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital while reacting to the State-of-the-States 2023 report by BudgIT, which ranked Ogun State higher on Index A1 of the state’s that have been able to significantly grow their IGR year-on-year and reduced the reliance on federal allocations.
Ogun, which beats other states to emerge as Nigeria’s most improved state on Index A1 with an index point of 0.53, is closely followed by Kaduna (0.47), Bauchi (0.41) and Rivers (0.36) in the latest ranking.
The state, which had in the last four years, remained among Nigeria’s top four IGR states after Lagos, Rivers and the FCT, Abuja, has now taken the lead in percentage of IGR growth, in its avowed desire to consolidate its position as Nigeria’s top investment destination of choice.
Reacting to the development, however, Okubadejo, who doubles as chief economic adviser in the state, explained that the Prince Dapo Abiodu- led administration in Ogun had within the past three years, resolved to adopt a more seamless approach to revenue generation which he said resulted in increased revenue profile of the state.
This, he explained, was diligently done by wooing local and foreign investors, enhancing the ease of doing business and facilitating the rapid industrialization of the state to boost job creation and widen the tax net, among other strategies.
The commissioner stated further that the government was committed to providing incentives, empowering its workforce, and creating an enabling working environment for workers, advising them not to rest on their oars.