Niger Assembly committee calls for funding of land ministry to boost IGR
The Niger state House of Assembly Committee on Land and Housing had called for effective funding of the ministry to enable it generate more revenue.
Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Mohammed Haruna (APC-Bida II), made the call during the 2023 budget performance and 2024 budget screenings in Minna.
Haruna said the N15 million accessed out of the N250 million approved for the ministry in the 2023 budget was inadequate for the ministry perform optimally.
“If we are talking about revenue generation, land administration is the only way to change the phase of government.
“This committee is going to raise head to ensure that the ministry is adequately equipped to function effectively, as revenue generation rest squarely on it,” he said.
He said the screening exercise was an avenue for observation, inputs in order to add value to the system, adding that there was a setback on the issue of land administration in the state.
The lawmaker noted that there was no way the ministry would operate if it was not properly funded and equipped.
Also, Alhaji Mohammed Ustaz (APC-Chanchaga), urged the ministry come up with modalities to improve revenue generation for the state as government needs money to finance the 2024 budget.
Earlier, Mr Maurice Magaji, Commissioner for Land and Survey, said the ministry only accessed N15 million out of N250 million approved for capital projects and N2 million out of N18 million as overhead cost in 2023 budget.
He disclosed that the ministry generated about N300 million from the two agencies under it such as the Niger state Geographic Information Service (NIGIS) and the Office of Surveyor General.
On how the ministry intend to increase revenue generation, Magaji said government have expanded Minna to build new city with new areas with sites and services to generate revenue.
He disclosed that the ministry was revamping NIGIS as revenue drive to sensitise people on the need to register their lands and ensure those owing ground rent settle their bills.
He added that the ministry was also focusing on Suleja and Kontagora where commercial activities were domicile and the green economy to generate revenue for the state.
