The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Barrister Danladi Kifasi has called on the entire workforce of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to develop new socially acceptable lottery products, and evolve more creative, innovative and attractive models that will make lottery more acceptable in the country.
The Head of Service gave the charge in Abuja during the flag-off ceremony of a lottery awareness road walk as part of the activities lined up to mark (10) ten years of lottery regulation in Nigeria.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary Service Policy and Strategy Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Dr. Abubakar Mohammed, the Head of Service urged management and staff of the commission to further redouble their efforts and step into the big league of revenue generating entities.
He said that in view of the dwindling price of crude oil, there is need to explore alternative sources of revenue.
Barrister Kifasi reminded Nigerians to play lottery the right way, because according to him, “apart from wining to change your future; 20% of what is played goes as a contribution to Good Causes for national development.”
He said further that the commission since inception has remitted internally generated revenue of about 5 billion naira to the Lottery Trust Fund for use under Good Cause Project. Part of this money he added, is being used to fund grassroots sports development for more that 1000 primary schools nationwide.
The Head of Service encouraged all operators to partner with government and be transparent in all their operations as the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari hinges highly on transparency and prudent management of resources in the business of governance, for the benefit of Nigerians.
“This government has a zero tolerance for corruption and will do everything possible towards sanitizing various sectors of the economy”. He said.
Earlier, the Director General National Lottery Regulatory Commission Mr. Adolphus Joe Ekpe said that the Lottery awareness road walk was one of the strategies targeted at addressing the need for an aggressive drive to sensitize Nigerians on the presence of National Lottery Regulatory Commission as a regulator, educate Nigerians on the opportunities that abound in this untapped sector of the economy, the potential benefits derivable to individuals and the nation in playing lottery, and to explain to Nigerians that lottery is not gambling but a tool for economic diversification, employment creation, revenue generation and income redistribution as well as a tool for nation building.
SIGNED
Mohammed Manga
Assistant Director (Media Relations)
For: Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
