The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fashola

  • Fashola’s wife set to clock 50

    Fashola’s wife set to clock 50

    The high society is eagerly awaiting the celebration of the 50th birthday of the wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Emmanuella Fashola. On April 6, 2015, other social events in Lagos and its environs may pale into insignificance as the First Lady of Lagos State would be celebrated by friends and well wishers as she matches into the golden age.

    Abimbola is no doubt endeared to many as a woman of character with a calm mien and a burning passion for youths’ development. While she does not profess the same faith as her husband, her unassuming disposition and disarming simplicity have helped her to build a home that is the envy of many.

    Born on April 6, 1965 into the Ojo Ibadan Family in Ibadan, Oyo State, Abimbola has grown into an iconic model for many women and youths. As the First Lady of Lagos State, she is the Chairman of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), a community-based, non-governmental organisation.

    Under her leadership, COWLSO has commissioned four recreation centres and pays for free screening and treatment of women with breast and cervical cancer. COWLSO is also currently building the first retirement villa for active retirees and senior citizens.

  • Fashola inaugurates governing council for PSSDC

    Fashola inaugurates governing council for PSSDC

    The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has inaugurated a nine-member Governing Council for the Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC).

    At the inauguration ceremony in his office, Fashola said the ultimate dream was to see the institution become the Lagos School of Government in the mould of the Kennedy School of Government in the United States and other such schools across the world.

    The Council, headed by a former Head, Lagos State Civil Service, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, has other members drawn from both the public and private sectors, including Mr. Abiola Popoola, the immediate past president of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, Mrs. Regina Olubunmi Fabamwo, Director-General of PSSDC, Mr. Adeshina Mohammed Odeyemi, Mrs. Kikelomo Morenike Sanyaolu, Mrs. Olubusola Ajibola Abidakun, Mrs. Adetokunbo Ogabi, Prof Hakeem Fashina-Bombata and Mr. Idowu Oladipupo John. The Council has three years tenure.

    Fashola said the inauguration was coming at a time when there was urgent need for outstanding leadership not only in Nigeria, but across the globe in order to make human civilisation live up to its expectation and achieve its full possibilities.

    Fashola, who also expressed delight that the inauguration was coming so close to the end of his tenure, added that his pleasure arose from the fact that he could look back and say his administration was leaving behind not just a strong public service but also a very strong and respected Public Service Training Institution.

    He thanked the initiators of the institution which he described as “a far-sighted vision” adding that although it is still work in progress, government had over the last few years committed a lot of resources and time “in first upgrading the infrastructure of the school so that it is an environment that is conducive to learning which has all the tools”.

    He noted that the institution was already playing the role of a Lagos School of Government “in a much understated way” pointing out that aside the institution being the place where the state’s teachers now receive their annual courses, it was the place where the government converted graduates into volunteer English, Mathematics and science teachers and sent them to the state’s secondary schools to help train students in those subjects.

    He said: “This is also where the reformed programmes for the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) into the Lagos Law Enforcement cadre of the public service took place.”

    Fashola added that a lot of the resources that have been generated by government has been deposited in the same institution where, according to him, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the state’s revenue generation formula were developed.

    According to him, the government is happy to invest resources into the institution through which he said government is now developing the leadership qualities of the Nigerian people within the Nigerian territory instead of sending them overseas.

    He added that he has been receiving letters from governments within and outside Nigeria asking for his government to send resource persons to share the knowledge with them.

    Fashola expressed confidence that the ultimate dream would be achieved, saying: “This is because in the men and women that we have chosen, we have a lot of confidence, there is a lot of experience on one hand, there is a lot of youthfulness on the other side and there is a rich mix also of private and public sector experience going into the governing school.”

  • Fashola allays fears of violence in Lagos

    Fashola allays fears of violence in Lagos

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday allayed fears of any planned attack on residents, saying the state was safe for residents.

    The governor’s statement followed the rumours that he had given a stay-at-home order due to security reports available to him.

    He urged the residents to ignore such information

    His words: “I didn’t issue the statement. I must commend residents of Lagos for comporting themselves peacefully to perform their civic duties. And in almost eight years, I have never issued a directive as far as government work is concerned on social media.

    “Things such as work-free day, security issues have never been issued by me through the social media.

    “Rather we have always resorted to making broadcast in person or I ask the Head of Service to issue a circular, or I ask the Commissioner for Information  to make an announcement on broadcast stations.

    “That will not change. At this time, there is understandably some anxiety in the country. So people must know that nothing will change. They must ignore stories emanating from our government through social media.

    “They will be issued in the traditional ways-radio, television or through press statement. It is very possible for the social media to pick it from these medium.

    “It is unfortunate that some people at this time tried to create tension for whatever reasons known to them. But this is the time that residents of Lagos should be happy that we have crossed the first hurdle of the election and we are going through the next process which is counting and collating of the results.

    People should remain calm.”

    Fashola said there is no incident of insecurity in the state, affirming that, “the state is safe. Residents should go about their business; there is no cause to fear”.

     

  • Fashola accredited, calls for patience with INEC

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, was accredited at about 10:50am at the Ward G-3, State Senior Grammar School, Itolo Street, Surulere, on Saturday, with an appeal to Nigerians to exercise patience with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in order to ensure a smooth process.

    Fashola, who was accompanied by his wife – Dame Abimbola and his son, Ademola‎ arrived his polling unit at about 10:30am.

    Addressing journalists after his accreditation, the governor said the process has so far not recorded any incident of card reader malfunctioning.

    He said, “‎I think from my experience, things are heading in the right direction. People are orderly.

    I’ve been here for about 16 minutes, it took me about two minutes to do my accreditation. My right thumb failed, but my left thumb passed the card reader verification. I think we should patient with the process and ensure we get it right this time.”

    On reports of a few hitches in some areas, the governor said, “I haven’t heard anything that should heighten any fear.”

    It was observed that accreditation process started at about 9:00am but the voters were already at the polling units as early as 7:30am.

    The process was seamless, although there were pockets of card verification problems encountered by some voters.

  • Don’t vote on ethnic or religious lines – Fashola urges electorate

    Don’t vote on ethnic or religious lines – Fashola urges electorate

    Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Wednesday advised the electorate to vote leaders based on what they could deliver rather than sentiments.

    Speaking at the monthly draw for the allocation of homes under the state’s mortgage scheme, Fashola urged citizens not to vote along religious and ethnic lines.

    He argued that democratic dividends had no religious or ethnic colouration, saying development could never be guaranteed through sentiments.

    Fashola said if citizens truly hoped for a better country, they would not yield to the subterfuge of politicians who played ethnic and religious cards.

    “As the elections draw closer, some people are telling you that the polls are about Christians versus Muslims.

    “They are telling you it is about one ethnic group versus the other. They are telling you all sorts of things.

    “Now, let me ask you; for those of you, who have been allocated homes today, were you allocated based on religion or the language you speak?

    “So, development is not about religion or tribe. It is about quality leadership and service and this is what voters should be conscious of, “he said.

    Fashola said the All Progressives Congress (APC) was poised to bring the needed change in the country and urged residents to vote the party.

    The governor said the building of homes and allocating them to residents on convenient mortgage plan was an effort to reduce the housing deficit.

    He said the homes were deliberately built in all the senatorial zones in the state to give residents in the different areas access to decent housing.

    The governor dismissed the belief in some quarters that the state was building homes only for the elite.

    “Our opponents say that all the service we have rendered, we have only rendered for the people in Ikoyi.

    “But today, you have heard that we have built houses in Ikorodu, in Igando, in Mushin, in Ilupeju.

    “They say our homes are for the elite. But if these people who have been allocated homes in all these areas and can raise their children in these homes are the elite, I am proud to serve them,” he said.

    He said a number of housing projects were still ongoing and when completed, would further reduce the housing deficit.

    Fashola urged residents to continue to pay their taxes to enable the government to build more homes and execute other projects.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 57 applicants were allocated homes at the draw out of the 80 applications received by the state’s mortgage board.

    The successful applicants were allocated homes in estates such as Oba Adegburuwa Estate Ikorodu, Anthony Enahoro, Ogba and Igando Gardens, Alimosho.

    Homes were also allocated in Michael Otedola Estate, Epe and the Mushin Estate.

  • Vote out bad govt, Fashola tells Lagosians

    Vote out bad govt, Fashola tells Lagosians

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday urged residents to make history and vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday.

    Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Somolu, Lagos, the governor said Nigerians have another opportunity to turn around the nation’s fortunes on Saturday.

    Fashola said: “If you do not like the way your country is governed today, then you will be the first generation that will change a bad government through the ballot.

    “That will be historic. President Goodluck Jonathan said he has failed and if you don’t need a failure, vote him out. Every time we’ve had a bad government, it is the military that changed it.

    “The military has now said no to coups, you go and do it yourself. Are you ready to be the generation that will make the history, a generation that will vote for change by using the ballot to end bad leadership? If yes, may God bless you as you do so.”

    The governor added that there was no law that prevented the electorate from not knowing how their ballots would be handled after voting.

    He said Nigerians have the constitutional rights to know the outcome of the elections.

    “Some people have said don’t go near the polling booths, keep a distance of 200 meters. Let me tell you something, election is governed by laws. I am a lawyer by profession.

    “Those people who say don’t go near the polling booths are reading the electoral law upside down.

    “I will turn it up for you. There is nowhere in the law that prohibits you from staying at the polling stations after you have voted. Go and tell them that I said so.”

    He urged the electorate to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner, while they wait patiently to witness the counting of the ballot papers.

    “When you are going to vote, take water and snacks along for yourself and your friends.

    “When you are going to cast your votes, call your neighbours and tell them to go and do the same thing.

    “It is our civic rights to vote those who should govern us and vote out those we don’t like.”

    An APC chieftain, Senator Anthony Adefuye, said Nigeria should vote for  the APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, because of his rare qualities.

    He said Buhari is the only leader who has held key positions without owning an oil block.

    Lagos APC Chairman Dele Ajomale urged the people to continue to be patient.

    He said PDP followers have tried so hard to provoke APC members, but the party has remained steadfast to the peace accord signed by its leaders.

    He said: “They are doing everything to ensure that the elections do not hold. They have been shooting, maiming and challenging us, but we are democrats who believe in the power of the ballots.

    “They have even been giving money to everybody they come across.

    “I must say, collect their money because it is our money and do the needful. They cannot buy the conscience of Lagosians because our people know what they want.”

    Senator Gbenga Ashafa called on the people to remain steadfast.

    He said Saturday’s election would be given as a birthday gift to APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who turns 63 on Sunday.

  • Fashola: It’s criminal to evade tax

    Fashola: It’s criminal to evade tax

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, (SAN), has said that it is a criminal offence for anybody not to pay tax .

    He  berated  politicians who have been campaigning  against payment of tax in order to win votes during elections saying that  such politicians are  enemies of progress and development.

    This was at  the public presentation of a book, Nigerian Tax Law and Administration written  by the Lagos state Attorney-General,  Ade Ipaye at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    Fashola said tax payment cannot be taken for granted in any egalitarian society.

    He said it is criminal for anybody not to pay tax stressing that tax administration in the state is a vex issue.

    The governor chided the governorship candidate of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP) Jimi Agbaje who he alleged promised to cancel tax payment in the state.

    He said no state can develop without tax collection and good revenue drive.

    According to him, “ payment of tax, cannot be taken for granted. Any politician that says he will cancel payment of tax is telling you lie. There is no way government can achieve the implementation of laudable projects without revenue from taxes.”

    The governor  advised Lagosians to disregard such promises which he said was intended  to lure them into  voting for the wrong party.

    Fashola wondered  how they  would  run the government without revenue drive.

    He pointed out  that  several states have not been able to pay salaries of workers because of paucity of funds from the oil revenue from the federal government.

    He assured that Lagos State government would continue to fulfill its obligations of providing infrastructure and ensure regular payment of workers salaries from the tax collected from the people of the state.

    He recalled that  payment of tax  dated back to the pre-colonial days when the traditional rulers collected tax to run their domain adding that such tax collection  was not limited to money but also include farm produce.

    He urged Lagosians not to be discouraged from  paying  their taxes.

    He said they have a right to  challenge the government on the proper utilisation of the tax collected.

    “What you can do is to pay your tax. The payment of tax is a legal obligations. Failure to pay tax is criminal offence. What you can do is for you to withhold your votes for government or the candidate that fails to utilize your tax effectively.

    “What should be the discussion or the debate is who is to pay more and who is to pay less. We left tax for oil revenue, where are we today?  This state will continue to survive on tax receipt.”

    In his tribute,  Professor Itse Sagay saluted the author,’s courage for coming out with the book. According to him, Ipaye has been “extremely reliable, efficient, intelligent and proactive.  It has been a pleasure meeting him. I have benefited much from our relationship.”

    The author, Ipaye said he was inspired to write the book based on his experiences both at the classroom as a teacher as well as the tax special assistance to the former  Lagos state Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    He disclosed that his experiences had help in the expansion of his  horizon in tax laws and regulations.

     

     

  • Fashola to provide 24-hour electricity in schools

    Fashola to provide 24-hour electricity in schools

    Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has unveiled plans to provide uninterrupted power supply to every public school in the state.

    The governor spoke last Thursday at the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards Breakfast Meeting to honour individuals and corporate organizations that contribute to the “Support Our Schools” initiative at City Hall, Lagos Island.

    He said the plans, which are already underway in some schools, would be achieved by providing alternative means of power supply, such as solar panels.

    Fashola said the first phase of the project entails distribution of 172 solar panels to power the schools during the day and even night for boarding schools.

    His words: “We now want to ensure that every school, secondary and primary in Lagos, has regular, uninterrupted electricity supply.  We are putting solar panel powers in 172 schools in the first round.”

    He said the project has commenced already in about 20 schools, including the Government Secondary School, Iperu, Alimosho, which was inaugurated recently.

    Listing other plans, the governor said his administration has issued 600 maintenance contracts worth N2-4 million per year for the schools that would include repainting of structures, repairs of classroom furniture and other maintenance activities.  He said some of the contract was awarded to students of the government technical colleges upon graduation.

    “If you train people to acquire certain skills, you must develop the end gain from where they would proceed. So we have thought about that and as a graduate, they will become our maintenance contractors,” he noted.

    At the event, Fashola presented 424 awards to corporate bodies and individuals for their contributions to the development of education in the state, attesting to the positive effects of philanthropic on the lives of the children.

    Of the corporate bodies awarded, 17 organisations, including Seatana Energy’s, Access Bank Plc, Oando Foundation, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Budhrani Charitable Trust made category A.  Thirty-four organisations were in Category B, 112 in Category C and 261 in category D.

    Responding to the award, Tokunboh Durosaro, Director, Oando Foundation said it would spur the organization to do much more.

    “We are truly honoured to receive this award. At Oando Foundation, we recognise that investing in public primary schools has long term benefits and a multiplier effect. This is why we will continue to do our best to provide conducive learning environments and create access to quality education for children of school age in Lagos State and Nigeria at large,” she said.

     

  • Fashola optimistic about free, fair polls

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola  is confident that the country would have free and fair elections on March 28 and April 11.

    Fashola, who spoke in his office at the Lagos House, Alausa, where he hosted the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Martin Uden, said those who predicted Nigeria’s break up would be disappointed because, according to him, “we have pulled back so many times in the past and I don’t think this will be a different occasion”.

    “You will see more enthusiastic people willing to participate in a democratic process that affects their lives. There will be cultural dissimilarities from what you may probably be used to in the United Kingdom; but I am convinced that it will ultimately turn out for good.

    “All will be well and it will be the responsibility of everybody – voters, parties, regulator, security apparatus, the communities and all of us – to ensure that we ultimately deliver a process that will meet the global standards of fairness, transparency and participation.

    “I think once that is done, we can now relax and everybody can heave a sigh of relief and then people will hopefully choose the leaders that they want; I don’t expect anything else,” the governor said.

    Acknowledging the outstanding work, which past deputy high commissioners did in Lagos, Fashola said the periodic breakfast meetings had helped in delivering support to various sectors of the state’s economy.

    The envoy thanked the governor for receiving him and his efforts at maintaining the historic link and very fruitful relationship with the British Government.Describing the occasion as significant, the governor told his guest: “Over the years we have built partnerships with the British government through your diplomatic outpost here and these are the people with whom we have developed breakfast meetings where we go from Finance to Budgets, Trade, Commerce, Education, Law and Justice; these are the heads of those departments. That is why they are here”.

    He noted that the new Deputy High Commissioner has not had an experience in Africa in his diplomatic career which , according to him, had taken him  largely across Asia  adding, however, that he would not find Nigeria very much different from Asian countries in term of their foods, cultural and language diversity as well as fashion.

  • Fashola lashes Jonathan as he opens Glover Road

    Fashola lashes Jonathan as he opens Glover Road

    LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has chided the Dr Goodluck Jonathan administration for not fulfilling its promises to the citizenry.

    The government, he said, is just deceiving the people, while his administration has delivered on its promises.

    Fashola spoke on Sundaay night at the commissioning of the 2.18km Glover Road in Ikoyi in fulfilment of his promise to the residents when he commissioned the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge in 2010.

    According to him, among the roads he promised to upgrade in Ikoyi, Glover Road is the first of such roads where the government has intervened to improve easy connectivity within the area.

    Other roads, including First Avenue and Ikoyi Club 1938, are being reconstructed, he said.

    Fashola noted that the Federal Government which criticised his administration for building the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, has not kept its own promises made within the same period.

    He said: “In three years, we have finished a first class architectural masterpiece which put Lagos back on the global architectural reckoning. For our political opponents, they say it is expensive, they say every negative thing about it, but we used the same contractor, Julius Berger, to build that bridge. The same contractor has not been able to help them deliver the Second Niger Bridge that the president promised since 2011. That’s the difference between us and them.

    “We built you a bridge; they are bringing money to you in the twilight of elections. Do you want me to take that bridge down and give you the money instead? So for those who say there is no difference between us, there is a clear difference, we do the work, they share the money”.

    The governor said motorists and bicycle riders would have a respite following the upgrading of the road.

    Fashola appealed for maintenance of the road, saying if well maintained, it could last between 30 and 50 years.

    Earlier, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat said the bicycle lane is government’s attempt at tackling climate change. He said the use of bicycle would reduce carbon emission and enhance positive lifestyle, adding that the road has all the necessary service ducts and provisions made for street lights.

    “The road can withstand flooding that characterise rainy season around this axis of the state. The completion of this road will also improve the driving experience of the people of the community.

    “This is also a link to the Lekki/Ikoyi Link Bridge through the Alfred Rewane road. We are also on Bank road and First Avenue that will create the necessary links and improve connectivity,” he said.