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  • Lagos development plan on course, says Ambode

    Lagos development plan on course, says Ambode

    •Governor vows to run transparent govt

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday restated his administration’s commitment to implement the state’s development plan.

    He said his administration had fashioned out a framework to begin its implementation.

    The governor spoke when a delegation from the United kingdom’s (UK) Department for International Development (DFID), led by the Country Representative, Mr. Ben Mellor, visited his office.

    He said his administration was working on a framework, which the permanent secretaries were already working on.

    Ambode said he would like the DFID to assist the state on issues that were “germane to our people”.

    “The bottom line has always been that we should do things and carry out programmes that would be of tremendous benefit to the people of Lagos State and that’s what DFID also stands for.

    “We will like you to also know that whatever it is that we are doing, will open up areas that we believe will be of benefit to Nigerians,” he said.

    The governor said the development plan was geared towards achieving the vision of the government in all sectors on the long-term.

    Ambode said he is a firm believer in the basic principles of good governance, which, according to him, “thrives on accountability and all inclusive governance”.

    He restated his commitment to run a transparent and all-inclusive government that would be people-driven.

    “Lagosians must be able to speak about the kind of government they want, we must also be accountable to them, we should be able to explain to them in every facet of our administration what we are doing and then government should also be participatory,” he said.

    The governor said he had concluded plans to embark on a tour of the state’s 57 local governments, saying it would afford him the “opportunity to listen to the challenges of the people first-hand and address them accordingly”.

    “We believe strongly that we should scale up community governance in this state. It is more about communities, its more about our people and what they want,” Ambode added.

    He added:  “I want to thank the DFID. You’ve always been a partner in aid, and you have always felt everything good about Lagos. I have been a beneficiary of one of your programmes while working here. So, obviously, you have a good friend in the governor and in this administration.”

    He hoped that the synergy between Lagos and the Federal Government for the first time in 16 years, would go a long way to scale up the partnership with the DFID and share the model to other states.

    Mellor hailed Ambode for his strides since he assumed office, adding that the governor’s decision to run an all-inclusive government conformed to the ideology of the DFID.

    He lauded the steps taken by the governor so far to achieve his vision, saying his decision to align ministries and engender public service reforms would increase proactive and performance-based strategic administration as well as service delivery to the people.

     

  • Ambode pledges to embark on local council reforms

    Ambode pledges to embark on local council reforms

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has pledged to embark on local government reforms aimed at restructuring the state’s 57 local governments and development areas to be more responsive to the people’s needs.

    The governor spoke during a parley with members of Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Councils (CDC) and others.

    Ambode said the intention of his administration was to give governance back to the people in line with his objective to run an all inclusive government.

    He added that his administration’s commitment to make community governance the springboard for economic and social development in the state prompted the establishment of a Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, which has thus placed community development in the heart of its policy formation.

    Hailing the efforts of the over 3,100 CDAs and CDCs in the 57 local councils, the governor used the occasion to announce the appointment of the Chairman of the State Community Development Advisory Council, Alhaji Tajudeen Adeniyi Quadri, as a Senior Special Assistant on Community Development Affairs.

    He added that Quadri’s over 20 years’ experience in the movement will come handy.

    The governor revealed that his administration would create a platform to recognise excellence in self-development efforts of the communities and reward same though provision of grants, assistance and other support through the local governments and council development areas.

    He said the drive to ensure an unprecedented level of community development could not be left to the government alone, hence the need for the CDAs and CDCs to be alive to their responsibilities.

    “The government alone cannot provide all community needs as of date, the people have to be mobilised to ‘do-it-themselves” to complement government efforts, rather than replace same.

    “It is this ‘Self-help or Community Development Approach’ as a veritable tool for sustainable development advanced by this administration that I now urge you to embrace”.

     

     

     

     

  • Be of good conduct, Ambode urges Lagos pilgrims

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday urged intending pilgrims from the state to this year’s Hajj to be good ambassadors, assuring them of adequate welfare package.

    The governor spoke at a seminar for intending pilgrims held at the LTV Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Lagos.

    Ambode urged them to take advantage of the lectures and orientation programmes put together for their spiritual development.

    He added that they should be mindful of the image of the state and country during their interactions with fellow pilgrims and others in the holy land.

    The governor said it was gratifying that of the 66,000 pilgrims from Nigeria to this year’s Hajj, 3,047 are residents of Lagos, making the state the highest in the Southwest region.

    He said the state was in dire need of men and women who have the fear of God and demonstrate religious tolerance and ready to sacrifice all they have for its growth and development.

    “I am particularly hopeful that you will all take advantage of the spiritual benefit of Hajj to imbibe the exalted qualities of the holy Prophet Muhammed,” he said.

    Ambode said he approved several welfare packages to ensure that the safety and security of all pilgrims from the state were safeguarded and not endangered.

    The guest lecturer, Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf, who spoke on the theme, entitled: “Socio-Economic and Ambassadorial Implications of Hajj”, urged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors urging them to comport themselves while on the exercise

     

  • Ambode to pilgrims: Imbibe spiritual benefits of Hajj

    Ambode to pilgrims: Imbibe spiritual benefits of Hajj

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday urged intending pilgrims to imbibe the spiritual benefits of the Hajj to foster peace and religious tolerance in the country.

    Ambode spoke at a seminar for intending Muslim pilgrims from Lagos State, to prepare them for this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca.

    He said that Hajj was the fifth pillar of Islam and the exercise should be handled with all the seriousness that it required.

    ”Lagos State has 3, 047 intending pilgrims out of the 66, 000 from the whole of Nigeria, which is the highest in the whole of Southern Nigeria to go to the Holy Land in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2015 Hajj exercise.

    ”I urge you to take advantage of the spiritual benefits of Hajj to imbibe the exalted qualities of the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

    ”Our state is in dire need of men and women who have the fear of God, demonstrate religious tolerance, selflessness, who are peaceful and charitable, for the growth and development of our state and nation in general.

    ”I hope that this Hajj will equip you with the capacity to coexist peacefully with people of other faith, religion and ideology.

    ”The state government will provide necessary welfare package – medical, spiritual and other support, as well as ensure that your safety and security is guarded and not endangered,” he said.

    Ambode urged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors and be mindful of the image of the state and country.

    In a lecture entitled “Socio-Economic and Ambassadorial Implications of Hajj”, Dr Tajudeen Yusuf explained that Hajj was a global spiritual exercise and act of worship for total human reflection.

    ”If you successfully observe Hajj, you have won yourself a seat in paradise.

    ”It calls for sober reflection, patience, tolerance and endurance, as well as to appreciate God and humanity, ” he said.

    In his remarks, Alhaji AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem, the Amirul Hajj and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on 2015 Hajj, said that the seminar was aimed at developing the right attitude and character worthy of ambassadors of Lagos State in the holy land.

    ” I urge you to pray for our country, our people, our leaders, but most especially, to pray for us all that God would restore those values with which He created us, ” he said.

  • Ambode approves treasury single account for Lagos’ transactions

    Ambode approves treasury single account for Lagos’ transactions

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the operation of a single account in the state effective from September 1.

    The development, it was learnt, was part of efforts to efficiently improve on the processes of revenue generation and collection as well as ensure proper accountability and transparency in all government accrued revenues.

    A statement by the Permanent Secretary/Accountant General, Mrs. Abimbola Umar, said the government took the decision to address the challenges previously faced with the operation of the multiple account system.

    Ambode said the operation of a Treasury Single Account (TSA), aside providing transparency and accountability, would also encourage tax payers to request for a single account before making their payments.

    Mrs. Umar added that the development was in line with the objective of the move by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that all government revenue accrues to one consolidated account.

    “All the affected revenue collecting banks have been mandated to immediately close all the existing multiple revenue accounts domiciled in their banks to give room for a single revenue accounting system in line with the Accountability and Transparency Policy of the current administration.

    “With this development, it is expected that all parastatals, local governments and establishments will commence the operation of the TSA on September 1, 2015,” the governor was quoted as saying in the statement.

  • Judgment reserved in Agbaje’s appeal against Ambode

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, against Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The court also reserved verdict in cross-appeals filed by Ambode and APC against some aspects of the lower tribunal’s judgment.

    The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on July 1, upheld Ambode’s victory in the April 11 governorship election.

    The three-man tribunal, led by Justice Muhammad Sirajo, struck out Agbaje’s petition seeking to nullify Ambode’s declaration as winner.

    Ambode polled 811,994 votes against Agbaje’s 659,788.

    Justice Sirajo said the petition by Agbaje and the PDP were defective because they failed to pray for the conduct of a fresh election.

    The tribunal, in a ruling on the consolidated preliminary objection by Ambode and APC, held: “In the instant petition, apart from seeking an order nullifying the election of the second respondent, the petitioner did not ask for an order for fresh election.

    “So if, for instance, the election is nullified, the people of Lagos State will be left in anarchy as no order can validly be made for the conduct of fresh election, same having not been sought for.

    “Where such a prayer is lacking, the petition will be incompetent and academic as even the resolution of such a petition in favour of the petitioner will not confer any utilitarian value on the petitioner(s).”

    Arguing Ambode’s cross-appeal against Agbaje, PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said Agbaje and PDP’s petition was “irredeemably defective” because it raised an issue that had no relationship with the reliefs they sought.

    He said the petitioners’ claimed there were “corrupt practices” during the election, which he said differed from what they pleaded.

    “There is no nexus between this particular ground and the reliefs being sought,” Olanipekun said, urging the court to allow the cross-appeal.

    Olanipekun’s contention is that Agbaje and PDP’s petition was incompetent because, according to him, there was nothing in the petitioners’ papers directly challenging Ambode’s victory.

    He said the reliefs they sought were in conflict with Section 285(2) of the Constitution as the grounds and particulars are in opposition to the facts and reliefs being sought.

    Olanipekun contended that there were no grounds challenging Ambode’s election as provided under Section 138(b)(c) of the Electoral Act 2010.

    Opposing the cross-appeal, Agbaje’s lawyer, Mr. G.O Giwa-Amu, said the fact that the election was peacefully conducted does not mean that there were no irregularities.

    “In the circumstance, we urge the court to dismiss the cross-appeal,” he said.

    PDP’s counsel A.M. Kotoye and Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho urged the court to dismiss the cross-appeal because Ambode was not qualified to contest the election in the first place.

    Ahonaruogho added that the appeal should be dismissed for being unmeritorious.

    In the second cross-appeal by APC against Agbaje, PDP, INEC, Ambode and REC, APC’s lawyer Kunle Adegoke sought an order setting aside a part of the tribunal’s judgment, as well as an order striking out the petition for being incompetent, having not been based on any ground recognised by the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

    APC said the tribunal was wrong to hold that Paragraphs 14 and 13(b) of the petition, which deal with nomination, are valid grounds for challenging Ambode’s election.

    According to Adegoke, the tribunal erred in law when, having held that Paragraph 14 of the petition is a challenge against Ambode’s nomination, went ahead to hold that it is a valid ground for presenting a petition.

    He argued that any complaint about invalid nomination is a pre-election issue, saying: “Only the Federal or State High Court has jurisdiction to entertain all pre-election matters and the tribunal ought to have declined jurisdiction in respect thereof…

    “The tribunal ought to have held that Paragraph 14 of the petition containing a purported ground is a pre-election matter in respect of which the tribunal has no jurisdiction,” Adegoke said.

    PDP, in its appeal, is contending that the tribunal was wrong to hear and rule on Ambode and APC’s consolidated preliminary objection without dealing with the merits of the substantive petition.

    Kotoye urged the appellate court to dismiss preliminary objections raised by INEC and Ambode against the appeal.

    “I urge your lordships to allow our appeal in the interest of justice,” he said.

    INEC and REC’s lawyer Mr. E.R. Emukpoeruo urged the court to dismiss PDP’s appeal for lacking in merit.

    “It is not enough to pray to nullify an election. There must be an order directing us to conduct a fresh one. The tribunal did nothing wrong. Their action cannot be faulted,” he said.

    APC’s lead counsel, Chief Charles Edosomwan (SAN), also prayed the court to dismiss the appeal.

    “They didn’t say whether they wanted Agbaje declared as governor or whether they wanted a rerun. There was nothing the tribunal could have done,” he said.

  • Make housing affordable, NASFAT urges Ambode

    Make housing affordable, NASFAT urges Ambode

    The Women wing of the Nasrul-lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) has urged the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to provide affordable housing for Lagosians.

    According to NASFAT, the homes sold by Ambode’s predecessor were out of the reach of the poor.

    Speaking during a visit to The Nation as part of its activities for the 16th Women’s Week, NASFAT National Women Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Samiat Mumuni, said housing should be made affordable for low income earners.

    “How many civil servants can afford buying a home as much as N13 million? Housing scheme should not be for first class or middle class alone, the lower cadre  should be the utmost beneficiaries like what we had during the Lateef Jakande era,” she said.

    Alhaja Mumuni hailed Ambode’s alignment project in the ministries, urging him to encourage staff with better welfare.

    For the ministries to thrive, she said, Ambode should ensure all leakages in the civil service are blocked.

    She lamented the high rate of unemployment, calling President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the issue.

    She said: “The federal government should provide enabling environment for existing companies to generate more employment. The idea of companies relocating to neighbouring countries should be discouraged. Mr President should formulate policy that brings in more investors and not the one that will drive investors away.”

  • Ambode, Jakande to students: future in your hands

    Ambode, Jakande to students: future in your hands

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the state’s first Executive Governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande have challenged secondary school leavers to aim for the best in their academic pursuit.

    The duo enjoined them to stay focused and not be distracted.

    They spoke during the presentation of 250 Free GCE forms to indigent students of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area at the council secretariat, Ilupeju, Lagos.

    Jakande expressed happiness that the free education introduced during his regime is gaining more acceptability.

    “We never believe that the policy (free education) could go far but we that God that what we started then is being embrace by the populace,” he said.

    He hailed the council’s Executive Secretary Rasaq Ajala for investing in the youths.

    Ambode who was represented by Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Mrs Olabisi Ariyo said the exercise was borne out of the realisation of the importance of education in the development of the people.

    “Since education has been identified as the greatest weapon against poverty, we must do everything within our means to ensure that no child is denied access to education on the basis of his or her socio-economic background,” he said.

    The governor assured Lagosians of his administration’s commitment to providing qualitative education at all levels.

    “It is therefore necessary to appeal to parents to secure the future of their children and themselves by not engaging them in street trading during school hours. This is against the provisions of the Child Rights Law of Lagos State.

    “To the beneficiaries of these Free GCE forms, I enjoin you all to show appreciation by performing well in your examinations through hard work. This is the only way you can make the council and your parents proud,” he said.

    Ajala said the gesture was an evidence that the council is progressing.

    He said: “We are very much conversant with the maxim that education is the best legacy you can bequeath to a soul but the factors militating against it left much to be desired. One major hindrance why many of our youths have unfulfilled dream is because of their inability to meet up with the financial demands of their academic. In this wise, we decided to assist these youths to realise their potentials. We believed so much in the power of knowledge. Education liberates the mind, inspires confidence and gives the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the society.”

    He said the council went through a painstaking process before embarking on the gesture, appealing to the beneficiaries to see it as a golden opportunity to pursue their life time dream.

    “My esteemed students, you must take your academics serious so that you can use it as a tool to free yourself from the shackles of poverty, ignorance, disease and all sorts of vicious vices. You must also inculcate excellent moral such that your immediate community can vouch for you. Do not be swayed by unproductive activities that neither add value nor bring progress to you. The future is yours; therefore I implore you to make maximum use of any worthy opportunity that comes your way. You must see yourself as good ambassadors of this council. We want that stereotyped mindset to change. We want Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye to be projected positively in the committee of Local Councils through your academic achievement and impeccable character,” he said.

  • Judgment reserved in Agbaje’s appeal against Ambode

    Judgment reserved in Agbaje’s appeal against Ambode

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, against Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    The court also reserved verdict in cross-appeals filed by Ambode and APC against some aspects of the lower tribunal’s judgment.
    The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had, on July 1, upheld Ambode’s victory in the April 11 governorship election.
    The three-man tribunal, led by Justice Muhammad Sirajo, struck out Agbaje’s petition seeking to nullify Ambode’s declaration as winner. Ambode polled 811,994 votes against Agbaje’s 659,788.
    Justice Sirajo said the petition by Agbaje and the PDP were defective because they failed to pray for the conduct of a fresh election.
    The tribunal, in a ruling on the consolidated preliminary objection by Ambode and APC, held: “In the instant petition, apart from seeking an order nullifying the election of the second respondent, the petitioner did not ask for an order for fresh election.
    “So if, for instance, the election is nullified, the people of Lagos State will be left in anarchy as no order can validly be made for the conduct of fresh election, same having not been sought for.
    “Where such a prayer is lacking, the petition will be incompetent and academic as even the resolution of such a petition in favour of the petitioner will not confer any utilitarian value on the petitioner(s).”
    Arguing Ambode’s cross-appeal against Agbaje, PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said Agbaje and PDP’s petition was “irredeemably defective” because it raised an issue that had no relationship with the reliefs they sought.
    He said the petitioners claimed there were “corrupt practices” during the election, which he said differed from what they pleaded.”
    “There is no nexus between this particular ground and the reliefs being sought,” Olanipekun said, urging the court to allow the cross-appeal.
    Olanipekun’s contention is that Agbaje and PDP’s petition was incompetent because, according to him, there was nothing in the petitioners’ papers directly challenging Ambode’s victory.
    He said the reliefs they sought were in conflict with Section 285(2) of the Constitution as the grounds and particulars are in opposition to the facts and reliefs being sought.
    Olanipekun contended there were no grounds challenging Ambode’s election as provided under Section 138(b)(c) of the Electoral Act 2010.
    Opposing the cross-appeal, Agbaje’s lawyer Mr G.O Giwa-Amu said the fact that the election was peacefully conducted does not mean that there were no irregularities. “In the circumstance, we urge the court to dismiss the cross-appeal,” he said.
    PDP’s counsel A.M Kotoye and Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho urged the court to dismiss the cross-appeal because Ambode was not qualified to contest the election in the first place.
    Ahonaruogho added that the appeal should be dismissed for being unmeritorious
    In the second cross-appeal by APC against Agbaje, PDP, INEC, Ambode and REC, APC’s lawyer Kunle Adegoke sought an order setting aside a part of the tribunal’s judgment, as well as an order striking out the petition for being incompetent having not been based on any ground recognised by the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).
    APC said the tribunal was wrong to hold that Paragraphs 14 and 13(b) of the petition, which deal with nomination, are valid grounds for challenging Ambode’s election.
    According to Adegoke, the tribunal erred in law when, having held that Paragraph 14 of the petition is a challenge against Ambode’s nomination, went ahead to hold that it is a valid ground for presenting a petition.
    He argued that any complaint about invalid nomination is a pre-election issue, saying: “Only the Federal or State High Court has jurisdiction to entertain all pre-election matters and the tribunal ought to have declined jurisdiction in respect thereof…
    “The tribunal ought to have held that Paragraph 14 of the petition containing a purported ground is a pre-election matter in respect of which the tribunal has no jurisdiction,” Adegoke said.
    PDP, in its appeal, is contending that the tribunal was wrong to hear and rule on Ambode and APC’s consolidated preliminary objection without dealing with the merits of the substantive petition.
    Kotoye urged the appellate court to dismiss preliminary objections raised by INEC and Ambode against the appeal.
    “I urge your lordships to allow our appeal in the interest of justice,” he said.
    INEC and REC’s lawyer Mr. E.R. Emukpoeruo urged the court to dismiss PDP’s appeal for lacking in merit.
    “It is not enough to pray to nullify an election. There must be an order directing us to conduct a fresh one. The tribunal did nothing wrong. Their action cannot be faulted,” he said.
    APC’s lead counsel, Chief Charles Edosomwan (SAN), also prayed the court to dismiss the appeal.
    “They didn’t say whether they wanted Agbaje declared as governor or whether they wanted a rerun. There was nothing the tribunal could have done,” he said.

  • He was a loyal, dedicated deputy governor, Ambode

    He was a loyal, dedicated deputy governor, Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday also expressed deep pain over the passage of the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, describing the unfortunate incident as a tragic loss.

    Mr. Mustapha died in his sleep Saturday morning while visiting Yola, the Adamawa State capital, to attend the convocation ceremony of Modibbo Adama University of Science and Technology, Yola.

    In a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, Ambode, who said he shares in the sorrow of his brother governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, over the sad event, noted that the late Mustapha was a loyal, diligent and dedicated deputy governor.

    “As a brother governor, I feel completely overwhelmed just imagining the depth of your pain and anguish at the death of a most loyal, dependable and diligent deputy which you had in Alhaji Mustapha”, Ambode said.

    Praying to Almighty God to grant the soul of the departed deputy governor peaceful repose, Ambode, on behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, also prayed that God abides with Mustapha’s family, the government, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria and the people of Borno State at this difficult time.