Traditional Rulers of the 607 communities in Imo State have been mandated to pay N6 million naria as Development Levy. The State Government says it is aimed at boosting industrialization and community development. The directive was said to have been handed down at a meeting of the Traditional Rulers which was held at its secretariat in Owerri.
This has led to mixed reactions from cross section of Imolites. A governorship aspirant of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Imo State Hon Uche Onyeagocha in a statement condemned the levies describing them as unacceptable.
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In a related development, the Imo State Commissioner of Community Government Council, Chief Louis Duru had told newsmen that all leviable adults in the State should pay their development levies in order to actualize the Rescue Mission agenda of industrialization. The Commissioner described the policy as a developmental initiative aimed at enhancing the growth of small scale industries and boost rural development for the overall good of autonomous communities in the State.
He advised all leviable adults to key into the State Government initiative which would go a long way to encourage development and industrialization of all Imo communities, improve creation of employment, provision of funds for community administration and importantly stem the tide of rural urban migration.
Other advantages include improvement of community levies, improvement of community economy and reduction in crime and criminality in the community.
The Commissioner pointed out that all leviable and legible adults should key into the government plan.
Chief Duru further added that the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha’s government. is the only government that is poised to transfer urban development to the rural development.
In his reaction, a former Federal Lawmaker and a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Hon Uche Onyeagocha said called on Imolites to beware of the State Government directive demanding six million naria as counter part funds for development of the communities.
A former federal law maker and governorship aspirant under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) in Imo State,Hon Uche Onyeaguocha, has cautioned communities in Imo State to beware of the present state government’s directive demanding for six million(N6M)Naira from each community as counter fund towards development.
He alleged that the Imo State government through the Ministry of Community Government,Culture and Traditional Affairs is demanding from each of the state’s 644 autonomous communities a payment of N6m each to participect in her development programmes.
Part of the statement reads”The communities have been threatened with withdrawal of their autonomy were they fail to pay as well as suspension of salaries/Allowancies of their Traditional Rulers”
“This cheap blackmail to autonomous communities is unacceptable and highly condemnable. However,we do not expect less from a dubious and anti-people administration”
Onyeagocha davised traditional rulers and leaders of the communities to be wary of the gesture to avoid being duped especially at this dying days of the administration.
*THE LETTER*
*The Letter*