Osun state government has boasted of 120 percent increase in revenue from the forestry sub-sector as it recorded N22million in March against the N10 million generated in January.
In a release by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Adeniyi Adesina, the Chairman of the Committee on Forestry, Prof. Bayonle Olorede, disclosed the achievement during the presentation of the panel’s report to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state capital.
Olorede said the Committee blocked some areas of leakage which led to the increased revenue for the government. He said the committee came up with 17 recommendations which if implemented, would assist the state to actualize its set objectives in the forestry sub sector.
Part of the recommendations, according to the release, is the appointment of a forestry consultant who will be given a target to effect the needed change that will reposition the sector.
Describing forestry as a critical revenue generation sector, Olorede commended the Oyetola’s administration for working ‘assiduously’ to improve the revenue base of the state. He said: “We are happy to inform the governor that the state revenue on forestry had increased with over 100 per cent.
“The revenue rose from N10million to N22.5million between January 2019 and March 2019, showing a tremendous improvement in the revenue base of the state compare to what was recorded in 2018.
“Two out of the seventeen recommendations in the report are very important to the quest to sanitise and improve on the revenue potential in the sector”, he added.
Governor Oyetola expressed delight with the outstanding performance of the Committee He said the Committee was inaugurated to sanitise the sector; block leakages and promote efficiency and accountability.
Oyetola said his administration remained resolute to bring out the best in all sectors in order to drive up the revenue profile of the state.
He said: “I must thank the Committee for doing a very wonderful job at enhancing and expanding the revenue capacity of the state.
“The Committee has done well by reposing confidence in us that forestry is another area where handsome revenue can be generated.
“To us as a government, we see forestry as an important area where the state must focus its attention to particularly at a period where economic diversification is required.
“We will continue with this tempo to sanitise and refine the system so as to serve as a catalyst for an improved revenue base; socio-economic productivity and prosperity.”
