The Ondo State government is looking at the existing tax regime in the State to reduce dependence on monthly allocation from the Federation Account.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State this at the swearing in of the new Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyele Ogundipe, in Akure.

According to the governor, inspite of the current economic meltdown across the globe, the State government is on course assuring that no project already budgeted for would lack financial back up in order to give value to the expectations of the people who voted in his administration.

Mimiko said the process of repositioning the State Board of Internal Revenue was on-going to shore up the internal revenue base since saying " we need the funds to build quality roads, provide educational infrastructure, ensure that every citizen has access to good and quality health services and to ensure better living generally for our people."

He told Ogundipe that efficiency of his Ministry will be measured by the prudency applied in the speedy disbursement of funds and asked him to ensure spontaneous release of funds to cut time wastetage between policy formulation and implementation period, a development which he noted had been the bane of most government activities in the past. While expressing confidence in the ability and integrity of Mr. Ogundipe to deliver in his new assignment, Dr. Mimiko urged him to give his best to the State.

Mimiko, commended the former acting Finance Commissioner, Mr. Akin Adaramola for his achievements while in office including the successful preparation of 2010 State budget and representation of state plan for Vision 20: 2020 which has been applauded as the first of its kind in Nigeria even by the Federal Minister of Planning Dr. Shamusudeen Sanusi.

He assured that the State government will apply all relevant mechanisms to ensure the deployment of the finances for the greatest and overall benefit of the electorate.
Sunday Kudaisi, 5 February 2010