Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has emphasised that a major priority of his administration toward meeting the challenge of dwindling federal allocation is to make the process of tax collection and administration efficient and effective.

Ahmed, who stressed the urgent need to reduce the cost of governance, and block various financial leakages in the system, said he would soon sign into law the new tax collection and administration system in the state.

"We need to generate more efficiency in tax collection, improve process of tax administration and management in order to create more funds to drive infrastructural development in the State," the governor said.

Ahmed said that the policies and programmes of his administration would be premised on good governance, political stability and improved security.

Other programmes listed for implementation during his second term, the governor said include the strengthening of urban electrification programme with solar streetlights on major roads in major towns like, Omu-Aran, Patigi, Kaiama, Lafiagi, Offa, Share and Tsaragi.

On the security of lives and property, Ahmed said his administration will sustain the strategies designed to reduce activities of hoodlums in the state through job creation and entrepreneurship development.

According to him, the International Vocational Centre, Ajasse-Ipo would be fully equipped and become operational this year to provide the youths critical vocational skills for entrepreneurship.

He added that a 100 megawatt Independent Power Plant would be built in Kwara North senatorial district to power essential service, such as hospitals, government offices, educational institutions in order to free up more energy from small and medium scale enterprises.

The governor who made this disclosure while interacting with some former political office holders in the state, thanked Kwarans for the confidence repose in him and promised to a regular interface with the various segments of the people with a view to bridging the information gap.

"This government is about the people and we must continue to carry them along," he emphasised.