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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday disclosed that his administration plans to drive voluntary tax payment through quality service delivery and transparency in the state.
He stated that when citizens see that the state government was working hard and ensuring transparency in its dealings, they would pay their taxes willingly.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadiri Hamzat, made the assertion when the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) visited the governor.
He said his administration would do everything possible to train workers in the state to actualise his development agenda, adding that the government prioritises training and capacity building to build on the achievements of the state and take it to greater heights.
“We take the training of our staff very seriously because we believe that capacity is the key. You cannot charge people with responsibility without giving them the tools.
“And just like people will say that only a foolish businessman quarrels with his tools. So, our workers are extremely important to us. Lagos is reputed to have the most vibrant civil service in this country. This is because we emphasise training, which we believe is necessary to do our job.”
Speaking, Vice President of ICAN, who led the delegation on the visit, Mrs. Onome Adeniyi, commended the state government for supporting the institute.
She added that the institution would be willing to strengthen its partnership with the state government through training of staff and war against corruption.
Meanwhile, to ensure a healthy environment, Sanwo-Olu tasked manufacturers to cooperate with the state government on the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials in packaging their products.
Sanwo-Olu also said Lagos citizens should understand that effective waste management starts from individual households where wastes have to be properly bagged and sorted to facilitate recycling.
Speaking at the sixth Lagos Public Relations Stakeholders’ conference with the theme: Conversations to Promote Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria, Sanwo-Olu advised the institute to play a leading role in the advocacy for cleaner Lagos, as they have the expertise to convey government message to residents.
Represented by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, he commended ICAN for using the conference, as an avenue to promote meaningful dialogue and push the frontiers of participatory governance.
