Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice has urged states to exploit other means of generating revenue to augment their monthly allocation from the federal account.
Boroffice spoke at the Fourth Memorial Lecture in honour of the first governor of the old Ondo State, the late Michael Adekunle Ajasin.
He said it is worrisome that some states are not buoyant enough to execute capital projects and have resorted to borrowing, instead of boosting their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Boroffice said the lack of focus by some governors is responsible for the poor financial status of their states.
He said: “It is sad that many states are insolvent, they rely solely on monthly allocation. Many of them cannot even pay the minimum wage.
“Some have sought for bonds to finance their capital projects. Ondo State is inclusive. The state has refused to pay minimum wage to its work force.”
Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was represented by the Commissioner for Urban and Regional Planning, Igbekele Dawodu, described the late Adekunle Ajasin as a man of great honour.
The lecture, organised by a non-governmental organisation, Good Governance Monitor, was attended by the late Ajasin’s daughter, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose.
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Senator laments state govts’ insolvency