Participants at the Stakeholders Forum
By Steve Temienor
Even though there is no shortcut to prosperity and wealth creation, the participation in lottery business has been identified as a viable tool for overnight miracle, for both the players and the government at large, as 50% of the proceeds of any lottery scheme were said to be accruing to the players, 20% to the government trust fund while 30% to operation and administrative cost.
The disclosure which was made by the Director Admin and Finance, Adamu Sifawa of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission NLRC, during her stakeholders forum organized by the Delta state zonal office in Effurun, was said to be capable of generating revenue for the government, through direct and indirect taxation and curbing the high rate of unemployment.
According to Adamu Sifawa, the government could direct its 20% share to boost the economy, through building of Schools, hospitals, roads and even promote sports.
“A major milestone recorded by NLRC in the few years of its establishment is in the area of job creation, from eleven staffs in 2009 we now have over 1,600 Nigerians gainfully employed across the six geo-political zones.”
While differentiating the difference between lottery and gambling, the director also solicited for the corporation of the Delta state government and the entire people to make lottery one of the highest revenue generating agencies in the Country.
The Governor of Delta state, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, represented by his special adviser on investment Hon Sunday Ozege, has earlier assured the commission of the state government’s active partnership with the Commission and all prospective investors, in the actualization of the SMART agenda and to fight unemployment.
“But we appeal to your management and staff not to compromise this credible project, by making sure that lottery is done the right way.”
Other stakeholders who spoke at the meeting tagged; Lottery: A tool for sustainable development, included the representatives of the Ovie of Uvwie kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Sideso, and Chairman Uvwie L.G.A Chief Stella Dabunor. Others includes Ambrose Oyovwevotu, Mr Shedrack Ekpekurede, Mr Robert Bolokor, Barr Henry Owadiae amongst others, who called for the annexing of the lottery commission to boost the economy, rather than imposing new taxes or increasing existing ones.
