Alex Otti
My immediate task is to grow the state’s GDP, spending power of Abians, not tax increase – Otti (Video)
Abia Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti says he will focus on boosting the gross domestic product (GDP) of the, with a view to also correspondingly raise the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state, a whole.
According to the incoming governor, there is a need to raise the purchasing and spending power of the power before talk of increased internally generated revenue of the state, which according to him , would be ‘putting square peg in a square hole.’
Speaking in a television interview, Thursday, for the first time, barely hours after his declaration as winner of the March 18 governorship election in Abia State, Wednesday evening, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INC), Otti assured that raising taxes will not be first call, as according to him, ‘it would amount to overburdening the people of Abia State who are already struggling to make ens meet.
“The answer is yes and no (to tax increase). But like I said the immediate ask is to provide an enabling environment for businesses to grow and the people have money to spend. Then you can start to talk about increasing taxes. For now, it’s not ideal.
Otti further promised to use the resources accruing to the state for the benefit of all indigenes of Abia and residents of the state, pointing out that he is aware and prepared to deal with issues of infrastructural decay which has continued to mitigate against the growth and development of the state, adding that this issue ‘will be tackled head-on.’
He assured the people that the deplorable state of infrastructure, roads, schools and health systems, would receive immediate attention and priority.
He said for his administration to have sustainable development, it would require painstaking and elaborate layout of master plans to tackle the menace of flooding and re-engineer cities like Aba, Umuahia and other cities to support the urban renewal projects.
He said the administration would craft policies that would enable the government tap the creative energies of the people and remain resolute in their drive to eliminate poverty and create sustainable wealth for the people.
The Governor-elect was optimistic that he and his Deputy-elect Ikechukwu Emetu ‘are trusting God for His enablement to offer their services to Abians in such a way that they would not disappoint the people.’
He also said they would implement their manifesto which he referred to as a pact between their administration and the people of Abia state, as he reassured the people of the state, that his government would run an open, transparent and accountable government devoid of waste and profligacy.
Otti reiterated that his government’s doors ‘would remain opened and their channels of communication would remain unfettered,’ assuring that he would encourage the people’s contributions and suggestions to be a guiding light to navigate the thorny paths of rebuilding the state and transforming it for the benefit of all.
