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Tag: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

  • Ambode seeks religious harmony, tolerance

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged religious leaders to work for peaceful co-existence and harmony among their members.

    He said Lagos State cannot afford to build anything but a religiously tolerant and harmonious atmosphere because of its multi diversity to keep enjoying peace and prosperity.

    The governor spoke last week during the inauguration of the new executives of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Lagos State chapter.

    He tasked church leaders to continue to work as peace agents for the collective sake of the state.

    While thanking church leaders for helping to uphold peace in the state, appealed to them to commit the 2019 general elections to the hands of God for it to be peaceful.

    The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties Seyi Oladejo, urged the new PFN executives to work assiduously to take the body to the next level.

    The reelected chairman, Bishop Sola Ore, said the body will commit to grassroots development, evangelism and empowerment.

    “We are going to work on ways of helping our members and empowering them for spiritual and economic advancement,” he stated.

    He vowed the PFN will also be more involved in the political process to establish godly leadership in the nation.

    According to him: “The 2019 general elections are very important to us as a people and a nation. It is no longer time to fold our hands and believe we can do nothing.

    “It is no longer time to feel our votes will not count. If our votes will not count, why do politicians spend millions to buy them?”

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram terrorists before the general elections.

    The guest preacher, Archbishop Joseph Ojo, urged the new executives to provide a platform for the elevation of those behind them.

    He said: “Leaders should be ladders for others to climb on. You must provide leadership for people to move up. There is a space for others at the top.

    “The top is not in any way congested. Let’s give people under us the ladder to climb up.”

  • Ambode urges accountants to embrace innovative ideas

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday urged women accountants to come up with innovative ideas in order to achieve economic independence.

    This, he said, would assist them to progress in their professional and personal endeavours.

    The governor, in his goodwill message to the annual seminar of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), with the theme: “Economic independence: A catalyst for financial ballooning-Nigerian women on the front burner”, in Ikeja, Lagos, said the global economy was fast evolving with an increasing need for professionals to expand the frontiers of knowledge.

    Ambode, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Olukunle Ojo, said the imperative of innovation was premised on the dynamism of the global system, which is the language every up-and-coming entrepreneur must learn and understand, in order to be a frontline player in the business world.

    “The capacity to develop innovative ideas and apply same to achieve economic independence is not gender sensitive. It is something that everybody, especially professional women accountants, must embrace to achieve significant progress in professional and personal endeavours,” the governor said.

    The Chairman of women accountants, Princess Elemanya Ebilah, said the place of women, especially professional women accountants, in driving the economy was paramount because they had shown commitment in the financial development of the country.

    The guest speaker, Mrs. Folashade Adesoye, who is the Head of Service, said all over the world, the public and private sectors and even civil society organisations are exploring better ways to achieve poverty reduction and economic self-sufficiency.

    The President and Chairman of Council, ANAN, Alhaji Sheu Ladan, said the role of women had changed because they had become more assertive by shouldering family responsibilities and being at par with men in taking care of themselves socially and economically.

  • Get involved in politics, Macron tells Nigerian youths

    President of France, Emmanuel Macron has told Nigerian youths to be actively involved in the nation’s politics in order to change the narrative of the nation.

    Describing politics as important, the French president said only Nigerians could change their image and that of the nation before the comity of nations.

    Macron who was accompanied by governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state, threw the challenge during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, on Tuesday night at an event tagged “Celebrate African Culture”.

    He noted that the future of Africa and the task of making it great rested with Africans, stressing that the youths has a crucial role to play in the quest.

    “Africa needs a new generation of Africans to share the new narrative about Africa all over the world,” he said.

    Read Also:Why I chose to visit Afrika Shrine in Lagos – President Macron

    According to him, politics is important because it is a tool to change the society. He described the Afrika Shrine as an iconic place of strength, music, culture and the late Fela, as a politician who wanted change for the society.

    “I am very happy to be here. Let me remind you that this place — Shrine is a music place as well as politics, which is needed to change the society. So, I will say to the youths, politics is important, be involved,” he said.

    “The Shrine is a cultural hub, an iconic hub and it is very important for me first on a personal level, and that is why I want to say with a lot of humility that I recognize the importance of this place, I recognize the place of culture in this current environment.”

    Macron also announced the launch of the 2020 African Cultures Season in France. He said the event would help create a unique face for African culture in Europe.

    “I discovered Nigeria and a lot of my friends are here. I discovered Lagos and I discovered the shrine. This place is an iconic place and it is a place where the best of music is given. I have to say my main memories about this place are friends, proud people, proud of their culture, proud of their art and music. I have a very different view of Africa than a lot of other people in Europe,” he said.

    Macron stressed the need for Africa and Europe, especially France to build a new commonality, adding that “this new commonality is not based on what is important for Europeans but what is important for Africa, about their culture, how they build their culture and promote the culture and which places are important for them about their culture. Being here, I do recognize their culture and respect their views. This place is important for Africa and their culture and that is why I am here.”

    The African Cultural Season 2020 in France which will be hosted by his country he said, would be about promoting African culture in Europe, adding that the event was going to be for Africa and by African artistes.

    “It will include people with fashion, African movies, new generation of artistes will be coming from Africa and it will be organized by them to show Europe and France” the real culture of Africa.

    “The event will be financed by African leaders. It will not be sponsored by France or European businesses, but by African businesses, it is brand new. This season is a unique one and it will be the new face of Africa in Europe organize by Africans, providing what you like and what you have here,” he said.

    Earlier, Governor Ambode said the President’s visit was expected to signal the dawn of a new collaboration between France and Lagos state in the quest to make the state the culture and entertainment capital of Africa.

    Ambode said the event was also about celebrating African culture, which was a positive step for France as it sought to rebuild its relationship with Africa.

    There were also Art Exhibition, Fashion Show, display of Nollywood scenes, presentation of a painting of Fela to Macron by Governor Ambode as well as pencil frame artwork of Macron done by 11-old old Kareem Olamilekan drawn within two hours.

    Highpoints of the night include sterling performances by dance group, Footprints of David, music artistes, Yemi Alade, Charlotte Dipanda from Kenya and a scintillating performance by Femi Kuti to bring the event to a close.

    The event presented an opportunity for Macron and Ambode to interact with musicians, artists, fashion designers and film makers.

    The event had in attendance personalities which include Dr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra; Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun; Prof. Wole Soyinka, Sen. Ben Bruce, among others.

     

  • ‘Ambode, a special gift to Lagos’

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been described as a blessing from God to the people of Lagos state.  

    Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, said this while speaking with newsmen yesterday.  

    According to the Commissioner, God’s unwavering love for Lagos State has manifested in the leadership of Governor Ambode whose methodical approach to governance has brought about rapid development in the state.

    Describing him as a special gift to the state, AbdulLateef said the Governor has addressed the challenges his administration inherited when he assumed office three years ago, including traffic congestion, kidnapping, cultism and other crimes that were hitherto prevalent in the state. 

    Although he noted that the state is not a stranger to progressive leadership, especially since the defining era of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commissioner added that Ambode has raised the tempo of people-oriented governance with ongoing massive infrastructural projects dotting the landscape of the state.

    He said: The network of roads in the state has remarkably improved under the current administration, with construction of inner city roads and those of the highways with lay-bys and bus-stops, the face of traffic flow and management has been redefined. “Travel time within the state has reduced. You will certainly see the improvement while driving on Lagos roads. I am sure driving and living in the state would be more interesting and enjoyable by the time several ongoing urban-renewal projects are completed. Flyovers are springing up on highways to prevent residents from losing their lives while crossing the highways. Lay-bys are being constructed on major roads to also prevent indiscriminate parking by motorists, a practice which used to contribute to the traffic gridlock.

    “Nothing less than modern 1000 bus-stops will soon be completed to ease traffic flow. The lay-bys and slip roads are constructed with installation of wire mesh fencing to bring out orderliness on our highways like never before. And of course the icing on the cake is the sustained Light-Up Lagos, which has been able to perform multi-functions on our roads and metropolis. It enables motorists to see clearly at night; it has also chased criminals and other night marauders away from the black spots in addition to beautifying our city. We can now feel the beauty of having our streetlights illuminate the nooks and crannies of Lagos at night. What about the gains accruable through the night economy in the areas with streetlights? Gradually, Lagos is becoming a smart city of our dream.”     

    The Commissioner, however, added that what is being witnessed in the state is just a tip of the iceberg, insisting that the future promises to be better and more rewarding for Lagosians.

    “More massive capital projects will be completed before the end of the year. While others are busy playing politics of bitterness, Governor Ambode remains committed to fulfilling all his electoral promises because he believes all residents, regardless of their tribe, religion, age and sex, would be positively impacted if government truly works for the people. This is what the governor means by running an all-inclusive government. Under Ambode, Lagosians don’t have to know somebody in government before they feel the impact of the administration. That is the new Lagos, a dream that is fast becoming a reality,” he said.

     

  • ‘Why I painted Governor Ambode in eight minutes’

    Young Oniudele Gold is the art graduate who recently painted Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 8 brief minutes. In this interview with Medinat Kanabe, he speaks on his love for art, his battle to hold out even against his parents’ wish and desire from the governor.

    IT had to be his most cherished moment. Sketching the governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode on the spot and presenting it to him right after, was definitely a high moment for Oniudele Gold, a Lagos-based professional visual artist.

    The occasion was the last Children’s Day and venue was The Lagos House and the graduate of Yaba College of Technology seized the opportunity to do a speed painting of the governor.

    Recalled Gold: “He was seated on the high table while I painted him. I was with the dance group, Footprint of David; and whilst they performed within the 15-minute time-frame they were given, I did the painting and finished right on time.

    “Whilst I painted, people in the audience thought I was drawing rubbish but when I finished, they were all wowed and couldn’t hide their surprise”

    Asked how he was able to draw the portrait under such limited time, he said “Before the day of the event, I had studied his picture very well, so I had every image of him I needed to do the painting in my head.”

    Seeing the great job he had done within such limited time, the governor stood up to acknowledge his effort and even offered him a handshake, which Gold says he still feels right up to the moment of this interview. However, Gold said he wished the governor would do more to support him because he is at that point when he desperately needs that lift.

    On why he chose to paint the governor, Gold said he is a great admirer and supporter of the governor, more because of the great work he is doing across the state. He said, “I have done many others like the photo of Jesus, the photo of Pastor Adebayo of the Redeemed Christian Church of God but what inspired me to do that painting is what the governor is doing in Lagos state and that’s why I wrote Ambode Lekansi on it.

    “He is making a lot of sense. Personally, I think he has done very well and the art piece was for me to appreciate him and let him know that I support him for second term in office.”

    Right after graduating from YABATECH in 2017, Gold said the first painting he did was a rather risky one. Which he did “standing on a floater on the Lagos Lagoon, right under the 3rd Mainland Bridge.”

    “Many people thought I was going on a suicide mission but I did it. That painting drew the attention of many good artists, so when I was going to do the second major painting, about seven other artists joined me. It was at Makoko and I titled it plein air 001 done on a boat.”

    Asked how he honed his talent, Gold said, “I started painting at about 5 years old. I would get pictures and try to replicate them; they used to look very horrible then but I kept on trying and now I am here, almost perfect. When I got to school, I became very popular. In primary school and even in secondary, I would draw take home work for my classmates; at a point I started representing my school in fine arts competitions.

    “In SSS 11, I began to find it difficult to cope with class activities. Most of the time when lectures were going on, I would be drawing. It was as if I had made up my mind not do to any other thing but draw.

    “When results came out I did poorly; this prompted my teacher to advice me to go to a technical college. Everyone around me, including my parents gave up on me after that and concluded that it was the end for me.

    “I went to technical college and studied technical arts. Before long, I became one of the best students and even became one of the best three in the whole school.”

    Initially, he said his parents were not supportive of his romance with arts, but changed, when they saw his zeal and passion.

    “Immediately after graduating, I did my first solo exhibition where I exhibited about 30 paintings; by this time, my parents had become very proud of me.”He said.

    Expressing his thought on arts, Gold said, “I tell my students that art is life because everything you do in life is connected to art one way or the other. The cloth we put on is art; even the food we eat. For example, you have a plate of white rice and a plate of red stew; when you mix the rice and the stew together what you get is pink.”

    Gold however condemned the Nigerian apathy to arts, lamenting how during his first solo exhibition, he “spent almost all his saving but at the end of the day he didn’t sell any painting.

    Recalling another down moment, he said “I was invited for an exhibition in Lekki and as I transported my works, which were on the roof of the bus, it rained and some of the paintings began to peel off. To make matters worse, it didn’t rain in Lekki and I felt so embarrassed. Of course, I didn’t sell anything on the occasion.”

  • House appraises activities of Neighbourhood Corps

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the management of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) to brief it on its activities. The corps was established on March 27, last year after the law which was passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly was signed into law by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The bill which became law was sponsored by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

    The Corps, which Obasa said was a step towards state police, clocked one year recently and the lawmakers, at plenary on April 3 did an evaluation of the activities and operations of the agency.

    The debate was prompted by the Speaker.

    Obasa called on the Acting Chairman of the Security Committee, Hon. Tunde Braimoh to give an evaluation of the performance of LNSC one year after. He reiterated that the Neighbourhood Safety Corps is a step towards state police, adding that there was need for the state to get it right so that agitation for state police would rational.

    Opinion, however, differed sharply among lawmakers over the performance of LNSC. While some lawmakers said LNSC has performed well, majority disagreed, saying it has performed abysmally.

    Giving his appraisal, Braimoh said the agency is still battling with teething problems as it has been trailed with “so many petitions, protests and insinuations even by members of the Corps.

    He complained about issues bordering on non-regularisation of personnel of the agency and non-payment of salaries for upward of eleven months.

    “Some of the personnel are alleged to be parading fake certificates from higher institutions; inadequate protection for personnel and need for more equipment to serve better”.

    Braimoh, however, said the agency’s personnel have been able to establish some rapport with critical stakeholders in security across the state such as Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committees (CDCs) and also a working relationship with the police.

    He also said they have been instrumental to the arrest of some armed robbery gangs, tackling of the Badoo menace in Ikorodu where they arrested some members of the gang and also smashed a gang of notorious terrorists also at Ikorodu.

    Hon. Setonji David (Badagry 2), however, disagreed with Braimoh, saying the “Neighbourhood Corps has performed abysmally. Despite the efforts put in by the House in passing the bill into law, it has turned out to be working against our intentions.

    “Their mode of operation is very unprofessional, the personnel have no skills in security matters, qualified and known hands or professionals in security matters were disengaged. We need to look into the law and review it”, David said.

    Agreeing with David, Hon. Bisi Yusuf said there were shocking revelations about the agency during interactions with its official during budget defence.

    “We need to call the management to know what is happening within the agency. There were shocking revelations at the appropriation meeting with them. There is inefficiency in the system as a result of seeming incompetence on the part the management”, Yusuf said.

    Hon. Rotimi Olowo suggested the setting up of an ad-hoc committee to look into the totality of the agency’s operation.

    The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni also said: “There is no proper structure; training is not up to date, what is their training schedule? There is no administrative structure for optimal performance; the officers are visible but not effective and no insurance policy for the corps”. He, however, advised that they should be paid their salaries.

    The Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade said: “There is no doubt that the agency may have some shortcomings. Without proper remuneration, its members can compromise which will be dangerous as a security outfit.

    “However, the establishment of the Corps has created very good impact on security situations and has assisted in bursting crimes in the state, especially in Ikorodu axis. It has assisted in information gathering during Badoo menace. We should look at the hindrances and find solution to them”, Agunbiade advised.

    Rounding off the debate, Obasa said: “The Neighbourhood Corps is a step towards state police and we don’t want to fail. If we can’t manage it then we cannot make case for state police. We need to improve and perfect what they are doing. Other states have emulated us but we must give the agency the necessary support to ensure they perfect their act and succeed.”

    After the debate the House resolved to invite the management of the agency to brief it on its operations, activities and challenges.

    On April 12, the chairman of LNSC retired former police commissioner in Lagos State; Mr. Israel Ajao led other members of the management team to the House in response to the invitation.

    Making his presentation, Ajao debunked the information in the public domain that salaries of members of staff have not been paid, saying contrary to that information “salaries of members of staff have been paid up to date”.

    He said the agency has performed well within a short time in the areas of training, inauguration and operations, adding that they work with the police, complement their efforts and assist them with information either to prevent crimes or arrest criminals.

    “We have made several arrests of robbers, from whom we recover guns and ammunition even without carrying arms. We also arrested cultists, fraudsters and murderers,” he said.

    Ajao said there was no delay in salary payment, and that the batches 1 and 2 that began work on April 1, last year, have been paid till date.

    He said some people, who claimed to have undergone training but had not been paid were liars as, according to him, they had not been given employment letters or deployed to anywhere.

    “Anybody you see without the LNSC uniform is not working for the agency yet. I can’t send people out to go and tackle criminals without uniform.

    “The LNSC is like a company that’s oversubscribed. It has become so successful that almost everybody is interested in working for it.

    “You can’t just say you have done training for three days and you are now a neighbourhood corps. There is a procedure after training; you must be verified, there are conditions for eligibility after three days training.

     

     

     

     

     

    “I don’t know why some people are peddling rumours instead of coming to find out the truth. How will you be working without uniform? You have not been cleared, given a letter of appointment,” he said.

    Responding to questions from lawmakers, Ajao, who commended the House for its interests in community safety, said Governor Ambode gave the agency permission to appoint 5,700 people at inception and that the agency was given days to train the applicants for batches 1 and 2 in 2017 and post the officers to all the 57 council areas.

    He said the corps bridges the gap areas where police did not cover, adding that 171 patrol vehicles and 4000 bicycles were given to LNSC to ensure grassroots policing.

    Ajao, a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, said the agency had four cardinal goals which were representation, participation, accountability and eye visibility policing, saying all the employed have been trained on these four key goals as they go to their beats.

    The chairman stressed that the first challenge of the corps when it started operation was dismantling Badoo cult in Ikorodu whose activities were at its height then.

    According to him, he got orders from the Governor to meet with traditional rulers, religious leaders and artisans and others such as police on the way forward until the issue was resolved.

    “We worked day and night to address grassroots insecurity; we are not resting on our oars. We have met and are still meeting with all community stakeholders such as Community Development Areas (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs), who have been calling us to give us intelligent information.

    “We have been clamping down on people in possession of items that aggravate crimes in the society, rather than crimes increase in Lagos, it is reducing with a lot of advocacies being carried out,” he said.

    Speaking on the challenges and problems confronting the corps, Ajao said lives of its operatives had been endangered as many had been wounded and injured by criminals in the course of their operations simply because they don’t carry arms.

    “We have so many challenges, which are not logistics, but criminals who take advantage of absence of arms to attack our men and injuring them while one has been killed.

    “If we don’t do something about this, it will cause discouragement. However, we have started re-orientation of our men so that they will not be discouraged as police who carry arms also suffer injuries,” he said.

  • Disclose health status, NYSC DG urges corps members

    The Director General, National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure, has urged corps members to disclose their health status so they could be well taken care of.

    He spoke while responding to questions at the closing of the orientation course for 2018 Batch A corps members at the NYSC Iyana Ipaja camp, Lagos Wednesday.

    Kazaure assured the corps members that disclosure of any health challenge would not lead to their expulsion from camp.

    “When you disclose your health status; when you are sick, it is not that you will be expelled from camp but for you to be moved closer to your doctors.  Please help us appeal to corps members to always disclose their health status,” he said.

    Responding to questions on quality of food served corps members on camp, the DG praised state coordinators for making the most of the N650 daily allowance they are given to feed each corps member.

    “I think the state coordinators are trying.  How much are they paid? As at last year, it was N500 per day but now they have increased it to N650 per day – maybe divided into N200, N200 and N250 per meal.  What kind of food will you cook with N200? I think the state coordinators have been trying,” he said.

    In his speech, the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Prince Mohammed Momoh, praised the corsp members for their discipline while in camp.

    He however appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to expedite action on the construction of a new camp on the land he allocated to the NYSC in Agbowa, Ikorodu, saying the Iyana Ipaja camp was too congested for the 2,794 corps members it hosted.

    Read Also: NYSC DG warns corps members against traveling, night parties

    “We are indeed very grateful for the allocation of land at Agbowa for the construction of a befitting orientation camp and it is our fervent hope that the construction of the camp be urgently looked into as the present facility is grossly inadequate considering the number of corps members deployed to the Centre of Excellence,” he said.

    Attesting to the inadequacy of the camp, Jennifer Obi, who won the most outstanding corps member award, said the overcrowding of the camp was one of the few issues she had during the three-week programme.

    “I enjoyed the camp.  It gave me an opportunity to learn a lot about things outside the classroom.  The camp officials were like our parents.  We were able to network, tap into our talents.  But the feeding wasn’t too good; the stew was watery.  Also the accommodation was not good.  We were 32 in a room and ventilation was an issue,” the graduate of Geography from the Obafemi Awolowo University said.

    In his speech, Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Oluseye Oladejo, urged employers of labour to accept corps members posted to their organisations.

  • Ambode’s re-election certain, says Ademowo

    The Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rev. Ephraim Ademowo, yesterday hailed Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his infrastructural renewal drive.

    The eminent cleric noted that the governor’s re-election next year is sure.

    Speaking at the opening of the third session of the 33rd Synod of the Diocese at Our Saviours Church in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) on Lagos Island, Ademowo said the governor’s achievements were visible.

    The cleric, who is retiring soon, said: “We have talked about your (governor’s) endorsement for a second term last year. So, it is a fait accompli; it is a done deal; it is not negotiable; it is not debatable.

    “We are enthused, happy and excited. We want to appreciate you; we want to celebrate you; we want to thank God for the way He is using you in this state and beyond.

    “We could see things for ourselves; the whole state has been opened up. Even where we have our retirement house, anytime I am in the vehicle, sometimes I don’t even know when we would get there because the road is now something else. I want to thank you for the great work that you are doing in this state and I want to assure you of our prayers.”

    The bishop described Ambode as a workaholic, trailblazer and an indefatigable personality, whose life of humility, doggedness and commitment to the growth of Lagos is unrivalled.

    He urged church members to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), adding that it is important for them to do so and elect leaders of their choice.

    Ademowo said: “We know who we are voting for. There is no perambulation. We know where we are going but we need to have our PVCs. Mummy and I will vote so all of us must ensure we get our PVCs to vote.”

    Ambode said the country was at a critical time when all should be involved in choosing leaders to ensure sustainable growth and good governance.

    The governor said the season called for every Nigerian, religious leaders inclusive, to make their voices heard, especially on the need for people to get their PVCs and shun acts that can breach the peace.

    He said: “We need to educate Nigerians on the need to participate in the political process through registration for the PVC. Your PVC is the instrument and the power every eligible citizen has to express themselves in choosing the leaders in whose hands they wish to entrust the resources and the future of our country.

    “The church and our religious leaders have a critical role to play, especially at this point, to place special emphasis on the message of hope, peace, brotherliness, unity, integrity and tolerance.

    “We must shun tendencies that could aggravate whatever challenges we might be experiencing at the moment because these are only temporary. We shall surmount them and our nation shall become great again, by the Grace of God, and through our own hard work and prayers.”

  • Ambode advocates efficient public service

    The Lagos State government’s effort towards ensuring efficient public service received a boost when Governor Akinwunmi Ambode inaugurated a special advocacy programme known as the Growth Mind-set.

    The programme was aimed at ending bureaucratic bottleneck, engendering development and expanding productivity.

    It will enable public servants to discharge their duties effectively in line with world best practices, even as it will assist them to acquire the right skills necessary for management of public service.

    Ambode, during the inauguration said: “To accelerate development in Lagos State, public servants must play critical role because the best way to achieve it is for them to have ‘growth mind-set.”

    He said civil servants need the right skills and attitudes that would help in fast-tracking development and set the state on the path of sustainable and inclusive growth.

    He maintained that with the right skills, attitudes and mind-set, public service will be transformed to meet the challenges of the 21st Century through the government advocacy medium.

    In a bid to achieve the set goal, the office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation (OTCI) and Ministry of Information and Strategy had organised workshop for Permanent Secretaries and Heads of parastatals.

    The workshop held at the Conference Room of the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Speaking at the training programme, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan said it was important that people who work in the public service should have the right mind-set.

    He noted that public servants must align with the ever-changing time, stressing that with the right attitude, productivity would be high.

    He said: “We have 24 million residents; many of them travel a lot and are exposed to international standards, while some have become sophisticated.

    “Therefore, the benchmark for services has increased, and people can compare how they are served in public service in Lagos State with the private sector.”

    Bamigbetan commended the Permanent Secretaries, Heads of agencies and parastatals for turning out for the sensitisation programme, noting that Lagosians would gain abundantly from the service they rendered.

    He further explained that the training would be extended to other cadres of the civil service, adding that government would do everything possible to ensure that Lagosians receive the best of services.

    Similarly, the Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pension Dr. Akintola Oke said an online platform, “Citizen’s Gate,” had been created for complaints.

    He noted that it was part of plans to achieve efficiency in the public service.

    According to Bamigbetan, the advocacy would focus on training and communication, stressing that it would enable civil servants to regard the people as customers who should be treated with respect and dignity.

    “Basically, government is a service centre. The customer, they say, is king. So, Lagos State which boasts good industrial environment, good commercial environment and the most advanced cosmopolitan city in the country, also has highly sophisticated citizens who deserve optimal level of services.

    “This, we hope and believe, will enable us to change our attitudes so that every civil servant regards the man on the street as his customer. With this, we would have also recorded major landmark in organisational behaviour which other states would imitate in years to come.

    “Poor experience leads to complaints, which in turn, ultimately affects votes for public officials if service is constantly bad,” he said.

    The commissioner said when the public service fails to understand customers’ changing needs; it will receive complaints that require additional resources to solve.

    He added that it would become stressful for both employees and customers, noting that it would take resources away from their core roles.

    “The momentum will ensure all organisations, including government agencies, to move faster, work smarter, use their resources more effectively and think further ahead,” he said.

    Stressing the importance of the growth mind-set, Oke said the advocacy would be deployed to fight complacency and all forms of attitudes that tend to delay progress and development in the civil service.

    “We are convinced that if officers of the Lagos State Public Service embrace the growth mind-set, we can attain a truly effective, productive and transformational public service that will surpass the expectations of all stakeholders.

    “In practical terms, our advocacy will be to challenge and encourage all officers of the Lagos State Public Service to embrace growth mind-set so that the objectives of advancing the economic potential and moving the state forward can be realised,” he said.

  • Land use charge: Stakeholders kick against new rates

    The attendance at the public hearing on the amendment of the Lagos State Land Use Charge Law a fortnight ago at the Lagos State House of Assembly was unprecedented. According to Speaker Mudashiru Obasa the Assembly has never witnessed such a crowd at a public hearing since the inception of democracy in 1999.

    Emotion, as expected from the protests that trailed the Bill since it was signed into law by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, was too much and the views of majority of people in attendance were that the government should revert to the old rate.

    However, even before the stakeholders were given opportunity to make contributions, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, led by its chairman Adeshina Ogunlana, broke all protocols and insisted on making submissions. He refused to listen to entreaties to wait till when it is time for that. Sensing the commotion that was about resulting because of his refusal, the speaker recognised him to speak.

    His argument was that they don’t have original copy of the law that is being amended and they were not given enough notice to prepare a memorandum as it only received a 24-hour notice for the public hearing.

    Essentially, the demand of the Ikeja NBA which he said was communicated to the Assembly the previous day is: “We request the adjournment of the public hearing for no less than two weeks to allow stakeholders adequate time to study the proposed amendment as well as qualitative and comprehensive submissions, via their memoranda. Pressing forward today as scheduled appears, in our view, undue haste and needless hurry and which may be counter-productive in the end.”

    Even after Speaker Obasa assured him that stakeholders still have two weeks from the day of the public hearing to submit memoranda, Ogunlana staged a walk out with other members of the Association and members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) led by its Secretary, Comrade Tunde Aremu. They went outside the hall chanting solidarity songs.

    The session continued after they left with many of the stakeholders calling for a reversal to the old rates and some others asking for reduction of the rates while yet others asked for one form of adjustment or the other to the new law. Some also frowned at land use charge on vacant land; the stakeholders stated that the state government has no justification for the increment.

    Former chairman of NBA Ikeja and a public analyst, Onyekachi Ubani, who said he was speaking on behalf of himself and family, hailed the state government for recanting and listening to the voice of the people by reducing the earlier rate.

    He pointed out that people were not against land use charge but “they are only quarrelling with the astronomical increase, reduce it and people will comply.”

    He also wondered who would determine the value of property, arguing that property owners must make inputs into the value of their property and that the percentage should be reduced.

    A representative of Victoria Island and Ikoyi Residents’ Association, Mrs. Wonuola Folami said although the members have no objection to paying the charges, she, however, said the law would hurt old and retired people and all landlords because of over-valuation of properties, insensitivity of the state about the national economy, denial of access to justice and other reasons.

    Speaking with reporters after staging a walkout with members of Ikeja NBA, Comrade Aremu said his group is opposed to any land use charge that is coercive, threatening that his group will continue to protest and make sure no one pays the new rate.

    A representative of Lekki Residents’ Association, Olorogun James Emadoye stressed that the new law was arbitrary. He observed that the people in Lekki area of the state were being segregated against, adding that they were being punished.

    “Lagos State Government should revert to the status quo on the land use charge. The state should expand the level of compliance of the rate rather than increase the rate paid by the people.

    “Lagos Assembly should spend the next nine months in consultation rather than rushing the law with an amendment,” he said.

    This was also supported by Mr. Oladipupo Onabanjo, an estate valuer, who cautioned that the law should not be retroactive, saying that it was signed in February, 2018 and takes effect from January.

    Also, Chairman of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Lagos State, Mr. Olurogba Orimolade faulted the way properties were being assessed, adding that this should be equivalent to the annual income of the owners.

    According to Mr. Richard Olaoye, the law did not take the Nigerian Constitution into consideration. He stated that the local governments ought to be in charge of land use charge before it gets to the state government.

    Another stakeholder, Mr. Babatunde Emmanuel wondered why his land use charge moved from less than N2, 000 last year to N220, 000 this year and another stakeholder also complained that his property which was valued at N18 million last year jumped to N100 million this year, wondering how justifiable that was. He said he is not against increase but that 10-15 per cent increase was reasonable not 500 per cent increase as is the case now.

    A representative of residents of Apapa GRA, Paul Odeh said Apapa has been completely abandoned and that there are several vacant properties there which nobody is willing to buy, even when prices are reduced, because of the traffic situation and  security challenges in that axis. He, therefore, urged that government should revert to the old land use charges “because we are not getting value for property in Apapa”.

    A representative of National Association of Private Schools Owners’ Association, Mr. Joseph Idornigie urged the government to exempt private schools from land use charge. He stated that private school owners are offering social services and that parents and guardians of the children are paying taxes which would amount to double taxation if the schools should also pay taxes.

    “In Nigeria, we run schools through money generated from parents and the parents pay taxes. We should abolish commercial taxes from schools as schools run social services. If the government exempts palaces from taxes, why not schools?” he queried.

    Another stakeholder, Tope Alabi said the entire law is illegal and unconstitutional because it is local governments that are constitutionally empowered to collect land rates.

    Chairman of Conference of Chairmen of 57 Local Councils (Conference 57), Mrs. Omolola Essien rose in defence of the state government, saying all the local councils “support the state government to collect land charges on our behalf. We have agreement on that”, she said.

    Apostle Tunde Oyemade said: “Yes government is working, government needs money, but let us be patient because no condition is permanent. Revert the rate to the former position”, he said.

    A memorandum from the United Action for Change stated that the land use charge has brought tears to Lagosians generally, whether property owners or otherwise. He described the law “as one of the most controversial legislations ever enacted in Lagos State which has resulted in protests from different quarters.

    “The uproar trailing this piece of legislation ranges from the high rates being charged (which many find quite inconsiderate and inhuman); the validity of the rates; persons chargeable under the law to the constitutionality of the law itself,” it said.

    Speaking earlier in a keynote address, Obasa, who said it was the first time he was experiencing such a large crowd at a public hearing in the House since 1999, explained that the law is all about moving the state forward and that is why contributions are needed from members of the public, adding that the House was not perfect and that is why inputs are needed from stakeholders.

    Obasa, however, said it was important for the state to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as what the state government was getting from the Federal Government was too little.

    “We have appealed to the Federal Government to give the state a special status, but we have not received positive answer yet. The land use charge might appear outrageous, but we must remember our children. We have other bills, but we want you to always be part of this anytime we call on you.

    “Our Governor is doing tremendously well. All the local governments feel his presence, but these don’t come free and they are not cheap. Everything depends on tax. But we must not do anything that will affect the interest of our people negatively,” he said.

    Answering reporters’ questions later, Obasa said reverting to the old rate as demanded by the stakeholders may not be possible but that the House would look at all the presentations and come up with something that will be acceptable to the people.

    The Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, who did the overview of the bill earlier said: “As a responsive House, we have looked at the areas of conflicts which are the areas of amendments we are addressing and you have two more weeks from now to submit memoranda as your inputs.

    In his welcome address earlier, the Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on Land Use Charge Amendment, Hon. Sikiru Oshinowo stated that it is the habit of the House to call a stakeholders meeting each time it is working on any bill or law.

    “We have moved from megacity to smart city and we cannot do this without money. Development is not possible without financial backing, which comes through taxation.

    “There were a lot of protests all over the state on land use charge and we cannot joke with your position on an issue such as this. That is why we have to dialogue,” he said.