The Ogun State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) has lauded the Ogun State Government for its various economic transformation programmes, which have boosted the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and engendered confidence in its Public-Private Partnership efforts.

The first Deputy President of OGUNCCIMA, Engr. Mike Akingbade, gave the commendation in Abeokuta during a meeting with the State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo.

Akingbade, in a statement signed by the Press Officer, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Kunle Sokunbi, specifically commended the government for adopting digital options for its financial transactions, describing the initiative as a measure for removing administrative bottlenecks and reducing revenue leakages.

“We observed that all along, there had been leakages here and there. Revenues were going into private pockets. But since the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration came on board, this government adopted some technological initiatives in making sure that revenues go into the right places and that is why they could get money to execute various developmental projects, which had made an impact on the government felt across the State.

“Everybody knows that if they pay taxes, it translates into development, and that is why industrialists, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs operators are ready to pay taxes voluntarily and happily as and when due”, Akingbade said.

Presenting an Award of Excellence and decorating the Commissioner as an honourary member of the Association, its President, Alhaji Wasiu Olaleye said the gesture was in recognition of his contributions to the development of OGUNCCIMA and the State at large, adding that his members had enjoyed unprecedented support from the government.

Responding, Okubadejo who restated the commitment of the government to the development of MSMEs, described it as a building block for the overall economic development of the State.

He highlighted the passage of the Public-Private Partnership law and creation of the PPP office, Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OgunInvest), and ongoing construction of the Ogun Agro-cargo Airport, among others as some of the government’s economic development strategies to further create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and improve the State’s Internally Generated Revenue.