NLA Boss Confirms Presidency Backing for KGL Contract
The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has provided a comprehensive update regarding the contractual status between the NLA and KGL Technology Limited.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face this Tuesday, the NLA boss revealed that the agreement has undergone a rigorous review process involving key state institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Attorney-General’s Department, and the Presidency.
This high-level engagement was initiated after the NLA board sought legal guidance from the Attorney-General to clarify the authority’s position on the contract, which eventually led to a presidential directive to form a committee for a full review of the agreement.
Mr. Abdul-Salam confirmed that the review committee has completed its work and that the Presidency has since issued a formal directive. This directive affirms that the NLA operates within its legal mandate when entering into such partnerships with private entities like KGL for the purposes of industry regulation and operational efficiency.
While the legality of the partnership has been cleared, the NLA chief stressed that the focus has now shifted to the financial specifics of the deal. He noted that the authority has remained consistent in its stance that the current revenue-sharing arrangement is not favorable enough to the State, arguing that the public purse deserves a more significant portion of the proceeds than the contract currently provides.
Following the completion of the presidential review, active negotiations are now underway to restructure the financial terms of the agreement. Mr. Abdul-Salam emphasized that the primary goal of these ongoing discussions is to improve the state’s share of the revenue and ensure a more balanced financial outcome.
He reassured the public that the process is aimed at maximizing the benefits derived from the lottery sector, ensuring that the partnership with KGL contributes more robustly to national development through an improved and more transparent revenue structure.
