By Francis Sadhere, Warri
Chairman, Warri South Council area of Delta State, Dr Michael Tidi on Tuesday, blamed the International Oil Companies (OICs), for the low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) turnout in the council.
Dr Tidi, who spoke to our correspondent in his office at the Warri South Council Secretariat, said IOCs like Shell Petroluem Development Company, Shevron Nigeria Limited and others operating in the area, were refusing to fully cooperate with the council in terms of payment.
He said must of the IOCs have refused to cooperate with experts from the council area to pay the stipulated amount charged after a Joint Evaluation of their properties, noting that the actions of the IOCs was detrimental to well-being of the people.
“The problem is evaluation. Each time we carry out Joint Evaluation, they (IOCs) will tell you that the value of that property has depleted and they are not ready to pay. And again, unlike the council, they have all the money to hire Senior Advocates of Nigeria to defend them.
“To me this is wickedness because they are not being responsive to the plight of the citizens. This money we are talking about is not going to our pockets. We use the money to help the people living in the council area.
“A situation whereby an evaluation is carried out and you come out to tell us that the value of such property has depreciated and therefore you are not going to pay X amount, is worrisome,” Dr Tidi lamented.
However, while noting that since he assumed office since January this year, the IGR turnout has increased drastically, the Warri South Council boss, appealed to both the IOCs and private companies in the council area to cooperate with the council to enable the council fulfil its responsibilities to the people.
He said the increase was a result of the use of scratch cards to collect revenue from the people, adding that designated banks like Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank and Wema Bank serve as payment for all revenue in the council.
Dr Tidi noted that the reason why he employed the use of technology to collect revenue from the people was to enable the council capture those areas that pay more so that when they are carrying out projects, priority will be given to such areas.
On the increase of the national minimum wage, Dr Tidi commended the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for his proactive response where the governor was quoted to have said he was ready to pay the proposed minimum wage of N30,000 monthly.
He appealed to the people of Warri South Council Area to support the administration of Governor Okowa, saying that it was God that put people in position of leadership.
“We have to depeen the bond of our existence and support the administration of the state and the council areas because power comes from God and it’s our responsibility to support the leaders of the day. Warri South is not the property of Dr. Michael Tidi, it belongs to all of us,” Dr Tidi said.
