The Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the 18 local government areas of Edo has collectively hit N210m monthly.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was disclosed in Benin on Sunday by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Communities Affairs, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai.
The commissioner said before the coming of Gov. Godwin Obaseki, the 18 councils could barely raise N30m monthly.
But the introduction of e-ticketing has made all the difference.
Ijegbai said there was prospect for increment with the plans to block other areas of leakage in the council’s revenue generation through the introduction of scratch cards.
He said the scratch cards were already being test-run in Ikpoba-Okha, Egor and Oredo local government areas.
According to him, “If you look across the 18 local government areas, you will see massive infrastructural development.
“For the first time Esan South East now has a transport line. They never had it before and their salaries are now regular.
“In December, Mr. Governor approved 50 per cent of their savings for grading of rural roads.
“We have completed work on 20 primary health centres we used as pilot scheme.
“We want to use technology to drive our primary healthcare. We now have Primary Health Care Development Agency. That will enable access to whatever is due to Edo from the National level.
“Before Obaseki came in, the 18 local governments’ IGR was about N30m monthly but it is now oscillating between N190m and N210m.
“By the time we leverage on all other sources, it will improve more. We will now be using scratch cards to block minor leakages we are seeing, ” he said.