The Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Hon. Lateef Ashimi, has called on rate payers to settle their outstanding levies promptly, stressing that improved revenue inflow is critical to delivering quality governance at the grassroots.
Ashimi made the appeal during the council’s 2026 Budget Retreat, where he noted that meeting campaign promises depends largely on the ability of the local government to “rake in all collectables” from rate payers.
According to him, while local governments often complain about the difficulty of generating revenue, both the state and federal governments have significantly improved their revenue performance.
“I cannot imagine a situation where the Federal Government handles revenue with levity and fails to fund the Federation Account. The entire structure of government would collapse,” he warned.
He acknowledged the financial challenges faced by residents but emphasized that fulfilling their constitutional obligations remains essential for development.
“Our people want good roads, functional primary healthcare centres, effective drainage systems, conducive learning environments, and other social amenities. Without adequate funds, none of these can be delivered,” Ashimi said.
The chairman described the retreat as a personal eye-opener, adding that it provided clarity on the dos and don’ts of revenue generation at the local level. He urged officials to work diligently to block leakages so that public funds benefit the broader community rather than a few individuals.
The Head of Budget, Planning, and Statistics, Mr. Femi Giwa, also charged revenue collectors to maximise the use of data generated by his department to enhance efficiency and improve yields.
Present at the retreat were the Vice Chairman, Hon. Taiwo Hassan Ojomu; Leader of the House, Hon. James Tunde Oyeyiola; Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Prince Sodiq Adeeso; and other senior management staff of Somolu Local Government.
