The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has thanked tax payers in the State for performing their civic obligations in 2016.
Ambode said the State recorded more Internally Generated Revenue in 2016 than what was recorded in 2015 despite economic recession in the country.
As at December 16, 2016, Lagos had raked in N287 billion IGR for the year under review as against N268.2 billion generated in 2015.
Speaking at a special evening of music and camaraderie held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Ambode said the taxes paid by the people have been judiciously utilized to upgrade infrastructures and provide various services.
He said: “You wonder what it is that we are doing? We said it is an evening with the Governor, but the truth is I just set this up to appreciate all of you and to say a big thank you.
“Yes, people have been saying that Lagos is working, but Lagos is only working because of the people who are seated here.
“The tax payers are the ones giving us the little energy that we have and even though when they say Nigeria is in recession, but somehow Lagos has been able to do it and it is because people are paying their taxes.
“The truth is that the people have been carrying out their civic obligations and somehow we have been returning those obligations with the services that we have provided and you found out that this year; we have actually made more IGR than last year under a recession.
“So, somehow, we need to appreciate all the people that have made this to happen and then I look at the way I could use Arts, Entertainment, Tourism and Hospitality not only to promote the excellence that Lagos has always been known for but to provide another sector of revenue for Lagos State and I felt one of the ways to go about that was to invite our old celebrities that we seem to have forgotten and spend an evening with them.”
In attendance were National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule; the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; former Governors of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Isiaka Adeleke; former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke.
Others are majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senator representing Lagos West and his predecessor, Solomon Adeola Olamilekan and Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon respectively; the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; the Managing Director of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe; South West APC Woman Leader, Chief Kemi Nelson; and the Iyalode of Lagos, Alhaja Binta Tinubu.
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