The Lagos State acting Surveyor General, Mr Olalekan Odupe has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting governance reforms through reliable geospatial infrastructure and professional excellence.
Mr Odupe stated this at the 21st annual Adekunle Kukoyi memorial lecture, He was the pioneer President of the Association of Professional BodÃes of Nigeria, held at Alausa, with the theme Nigeria under the grip of Tax Reforms: Exploring the politics, economics and geospatial dimensions of the act.
Mr Odupe expressed confidence that the lecture would generate insights and perspective that would inform policy, deepen collaboration and contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national reform agenda for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The Office of the State Surveyor General is resolute in advancing Data-driven solutions that supports, facilitates and enhances fiscal sustainability, Urban development, and National growth.
I whole heartedly commend the fore-sight of the organizers of this Cerebral and thought provoking Nationally relevant discourse for sustaining this age-long intellectual tradition and for selecting a germane theme that speaks directly to Nigeria’s present realities and future aspirations.
Speaking on the lecture topic, the Guest Speaker who is an Expert in Tax theory and Tax Policy from the University of Lagos, Professor Isaac Nwaogwugwu, said the overreaching objective of the federal government tax reforms is to streamline taxes paid and reduce multiple taxation and cost of collection while increasing revenue generation.
However, Professor Nwaogwugwu maintained that the new reforms have scrapped the middle class, with a call on the government to pump money into the economy to make macro, micro, small and middle scale businesses thrive.
“Reforms produced what is initially described as a short term hardship which ultimately assumed permanent posture on the nation’s socio economic landscape. Reforms explicitly targeted on correction of structural imbalance”.
“Diversification away from oil domination, economic growth, job creation, increased income, leap in non-oil revenue and general enhancement of the welfare of citizenry”.
The many reforms of the federal government have eradicated the middle class saying the nation’s macroeconomic policies have failed to produce the expected results.
Due to poor policy thought-out process, policy inconsistency, corruption.
Earlier in an address of welcome, Chairman Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Lagos Branch, Surveyor Adedeji Olanrewaju, said the lecture topic was apt and timely to address critical issues shaping the society including leadership, good governance, integrity and socio economic development.
Appreciating the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Lagos Branch, representative of the Kukoyi family, Miss Timilehin Kukoyi who is a grandchild thanked them for celebrating her grandfather and sustaining his legacy in Education.
Winners of the 21st annual Surveyor Adekunle Kukoyi memorial lecture Essay competition Tertiary Institution Category are Osakwe Somatina Isioma of the University of Lagos as the first position, while Ajayi Olatunde of Yaba College of Technology as the second position and Abiola Michael also of Yaba Tech won the third position.
Winners for the Secondary School category are Esther Oluwatosin Olanrewaju of Methodist Girls High School, Yaba clinched the first position, while Chisom Ozowalu also of Methodist Girls High School won the second position and Godson Nwankwo Samuel of International School, Lagos emerged the third position.
Dignitaries at the occasion include Mrs Essie Kukoyi, Surveyors from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo State, Women in Surveying, Young surveyors and students.
Reporting by Yemisi Dada