By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
Permanent Secre-tary/Auditor General of Local Governments in Lagos State, Mr. Mohammed Hassan, has blamed the loss of accruable revenue in Local Governmenst, LGs, and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, on lack of professionalism on the part of the employees.

Speaking at a seminar on, Revenue Generation and Administration for LGS and LCDAs, held in Lagos, Hassan, who was represented by the Director of evaluation, Mr. Musbau Jimoh, noted that the shortcoming has affected the level of development at the grassroots level.

Hassan said: “Persistent queries and observations made by the Auditor in the course of our assignment regarding the failure and non-observance of the relevant provision of the financial memoranda and administrative guidelines has led to massive loss of revenue in LGs and LCDAs in Lagos State.”

The Permanent Secretary added; “This is the reason why my office decided to collaborate with Alpha Beta consulting limited to organise this seminar to curb the revenue loss.”

On the reason for the seminar, he said that the seminar will help to stem the massive loss of revenue which should have accrued to the coffers of local councils in Lagos.

The auditor_general also disclosed that the one day workshop is expected to expose participants to various irregularities often encountered by auditors, especially in the area of defective and improperly execution of contractual agreements.

Hassan asserted that the participants would be fully equipped on the need to reduce revenue losses occasioned by effective contractual arrangement.

Also speaking at the seminar, the Managing Director of Alpha Beta consulting limited, Mr. Ola Ogunmola noted that while the adoption of the electronic banking system of revenue has revolutionized, revenue generation in the state, there was the need for improved revenue drive at the local government level.

Ogunmola, stressed the need to establish programmes for payer’s education and enlightenment on the need to pay all accruable revenues to the LGAs and LCDAs utilizing all necessary and available media.

Presenting a paper at the seminar titled, “Revenue franchise in LGs_the challenges”, Barrister. Olubadejo informed the participants on the functions of LGs, sources of revenue and the need to franchise revenue in their council.

Dignities at the event include chairmen of Ikotun Iganda and Imota LCDA: Comrade M. Ola and Prince Kunle Adebogun and top management staff of the office of the Auditor_General for local governments, council managers and heads of personnel management.