DELAY BY MARKET TENDERS TO SUBMIT MARKET DUES LOWERS THE REVENUE COLLECTION RATE OF TEREGO DISTRICT

Councilors and other front-runners of Terego district during a meeting at the district headquarters. Photo by Martin Anguyo.
 
By Martin Anguyo
 
Terego
 
Terego district local government is registering reduction in local revenue collections as many market tenders in the district are failing to submit market dues timely. The district since its creation has been collecting more money from markets than other sources of local revenue collections.
 
The secretary of finance for Terego district Geoffrey Opima says, much as they put more effort in collecting market dues, there are still some tenders who are not complying with them expectedly. “Many of our local markets are not paying, I am going to mention the names of those who are not paying. However, we as leaders, we will have to play our role in ensuring that, market dues are paid timely,’’ said Opima in a recent meeting organized at the district headquarters.
 
Meanwhile, the Terego district chairman Hon Saka Wilfred attributes the issue to the procurement committee of the district. “Our procurement committee is highly influenced by the people from outside and the people within the district and if we don’t desist from this poor practice, we are not going to achieve what we are supposed to collect’,” Saka noted.
 
However, the area member of parliament Terego East Constituency Hon Obiga Mario Kania challenged the district leadership to follow-up the matter seriously. “The biggest question you should now be asking is, where is that local revenue hiding because, it is like rain and who is that son that cannot tell us how much money is being collected in various markets,’’ questioned the Minister.
 
Local revenues are collected to support vital priorities including education, infrastructure, public health and safety.