The Zabugu District Assembly in the Northern Region, has organised a stakeholders' forum on the proposed rates for 2014, in line with the Local Government Act 462, (1993), which mandates the assemblies as rating authority.

The forum attracted chiefs and other traditional rulers, opinion leaders, assembly members, security services, chairmen and representatives of the various trade associations, market women, revenue collectors and heads of department.

Mr Issifu Alidu Laa-Bandow, District Chief Executive, said the District Assemblies Common Fund, which comes with guidelines for utilisation is woefully inadequate.

He said the forum was therefore necessary to bring stakeholders together to deliberate on how to raise revenue locally to carry out developmental projects. Mr Fawei Issifu Mohammed, District Coordinating Director, expressed the essence for the assemblies to generate revenue locally, hence the need for the citizenry to pay tax.

The Zabzugu traditional authorities promised to educate the people on the need to honour their revenue obligations. Participants were given copies of the proposed rates for 2014 with the necessary adjustments made.