The Oyo State House of Assembly during its courtesy call on the Nigerian Breweries PLC, Ibadan has appealed for the support of all private companies in the State on boosting the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
Speaking at the Ibadan 70 hectares facility of Nigerian Breweries, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin stated that the visit is to facilitate a beneficial relationship between the State legislative arm and the private sector of the State economy for the benefit of the people of Oyo State.
According to Ogundoyin, the present Oyo State government is focus on making the state an economical viable State, and all the stakeholders in the State’s economy must be carried along to achieve a resounding success.
“We the Oyo State lawmakers appreciate the contribution of the Nigerian Breweries to the State economy in terms of employment for our people both direct and indirect opportunities, and also in terms of taxes paid to the government and other corporate social responsibilities our people have enjoyed so far.
“Our is to build an economy viable State, bringing in more private investors, but we cannot do all these things without creating a good relationship with the existing national and multinationals in the State.
“As lawmakers, we need to know what are the challenges they are facing, how can will help in forming policies that will make businesses strive in the State without compromising the wellbeing of our people.
“We have tour or security agencies and we are working on the reports from security stakeholders already, it is time to looking into the economy, we have started with Nigerian Breweries and definitely we will visit other big players in our economy as a State,” he added.
In his response while receiving the lawmakers, the Brew Manager, Ibadan/Ijebu Plant, Mr. Tayo Ogunlana commended the Oyo State House of Assembly, adding that the cordial relationship of the private sector and the government will make the State a goldmine for its people.
Tayo while analysing the downward flow of the Nigerian Breweries’ income from 2016 that attributed the effect to the dwindling economy of the country.
He said, “I appeal to the 9th assembly to make policies and laws that will attract more private investors into the State and also support the existing ones too, because when companies like this faces challenges, it affects income and subsequently the taxes we pay to the government.
“I worked where a brewery was close down, and I can tell the direct impact on the host community and State.
“Let our people in Oyo State patronage our brands, either the alcoholic ones or nonalcoholic, because we are the one paying taxes to Oyo State government, and when we sell more, we pay more and the people benefits more when the government have enough resources to put up infrastructure. “
The Speaker of the house, Ogundoyin therefore charged the management to be conscious of their environment in their waste disposition activities and management, to ensure a continually safe and healthy environment for their host communities.