By Oyem Jonathan
Executive Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Council, Hon. Pastor Jude Chukwunwike has charged all revenue collectors, agents and proxies to carry out their duties with utmost diligence, transparency, and strict compliance with the rules of engagement.
Addressing a strategic meeting with various revenue units in his Ogwashi-Uku office, Pastor Chukwunwike declared that every kobo collected on behalf of the council is a sacred trust, not a personal entitlement. He decried the conduct of some ad hoc personnel who withhold or divert remittances, describing such acts as a gross breach of public trust and outright economic sabotage against the council and its people.
The Chairman reiterated that the council’s Consolidatory Agenda, rooted in sustainable development, improved infrastructure, and people-oriented governance, can only be actualized through consistent and faithful remittance of revenue into government coffers.
“No meaningful government undertaking can succeed without an honest and robust revenue drive.
It is your commitment to accountability that makes it possible to build roads, equip health centers, support schools, and strengthen security. Revenue is the lifeblood of government; without it, development stalls,” Chukwunwike affirmed.
Encouraging the officers to see themselves as partners in governance, the Chairman reminded them that they are custodians of the people’s trust. He warned, however, that any defaulter who treats government revenue as private property will have their appointment terminated and may also face prosecution under relevant financial and anti-corruption laws.
He further vowed to invoke the full weight of legal frameworks against unapproved or unaccredited collectors who impersonate council officials, particularly those hiding under the guise of “state revenue marshals” to extort unsuspecting residents. Such practices, he stressed, will no longer be tolerated in Aniocha South.
Pastor Chukwunwike charged all accredited collectors to carry out their duties conscientiously, with the fear of God and loyalty to the people, reminding them that accountability is the key to building lasting trust between government and citizens.
