NEED FOR ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION BY ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT EMPHASISED

   Leader of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission Team, Barr. Patrick Mgbebi, has advocated the need for the three tiers of government to diversify the economy, to help confront the dwindling economic trend.

Barr. Mgbebi made this submission during the reassessment tour of Economic Diversification Projects and Programmes, at the Conference Hall, Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He stated that the essence of the revenue mobilisation was to look at the non-oil sectors, in terms of mobilising revenue for government, towards providing necessary infrastructural and basic amenities for the people.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, said the State is poised to work with the team, so that the objectives of the exercise would be achieved.

Okubadejo, represented by his counterpart in Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, noted that the timing of the advocacy could not have been better, citing the current dwindling revenue informed by the oil price dip and recent Coronavirus pandemic.

In his contribution, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo disclosed that the tourism sector is very critical in achieving the diversification of the economy and poverty alleviation bid of the current administration, calling for more fund from the government and private investors to develop tourists’ sites, as well as amending certain legislations and policies.

On his part, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina submitted that diversifying the economy through agriculture would not only increase revenue generation for the State and the nation at large, but also serve as a main tool for solving the nation’s unemployment problem.

He revealed further that agriculture would serve as the main source of raw materials for industries, putting it in mind that Ogun state is the industrial hub of the nation, as well as the main tool for curbing inflation, reduce hunger and malnutrition in the country.