Isolo scribe laments impact of COVID-19 on council’s performance
By Damilola Kushimo
The Secretary to the Local Government (SLG), Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Emmanuel Olojede has explained how Covid-19 pandemic affected the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the council, limiting the local government’s ability to execute some projects.
According to him, some of the capital projects lined up for execution suffered due to persistent drop in the council’s revenue ever since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, adding that the same reason accounted for slow pace at which the ongoing projects were being done.
He emphasized that money was the major factor apart from the rain delaying commencement of other proposed projects for 2020 fiscal year.
He said the effects of covid-19 lockdown on businesses and companies led to low revenue the council could generate during the pandemic to fund its lined up projects, explaining that the council’s workforce has also been reduced as workers from level 12 downward were asked not to come to work.
He noted that despite the fact the workforce has been reduced, the recurrent expenditure was not reduced while the capital expenditure suffered.
He explained that the council had to review its 2020 budget downward to suit the current economic situation when it realised that its initial approved budget could not be realised.
However, he assured that the current administration led by the council chairman, Hon. Shamsudeen Olaleye would complete all the ongoing projects within the council areas despite the financial challenge.
His words: “Just like other areas, COVID-19 has caused a lot of problems with the revenue of the council being adversely affected. We have so many companies that have since locked up. We have some companies that can’t afford to operate on daily basis and on the part of the local government, majority of the staff that are supposed to be on revenue drive; level 12 downward are still at home. As it is, the local government is not finding it easy struggling with the economic crisis just as majority of all the companies are not finding the situation easy and it is not easy to start knocking on their doors.”
“It really affected the fortune of the local council just like other councils and even the state and the federation as a whole. With this situation, a review of the budget became important. Some projects may be affected like some road projects we have in the offing, but the chairman is working on the ongoing projects to ensure that they are completed.”
