Tag: Lagos State

Managers of Lagos State Government-owned broadcast stations and leaders of the workers’ unions will meet today to resolve the strike which began on Monday.

The job boycott has disrupted operations at Lagos Television (LTV8), Radio Lagos/Eko 89.7 FM and the Lagos Traffic Radio.

The workers are protesting the non-payment of the minimum wage and their exclusion from the state’s Oracle database for salary payments.

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In a statement yesterday, Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo described the actions of the striking workers as unprecedented and unacceptable.

He said that a meeting has been scheduled for today between the unionists and the management of the station.

The statement reads: “Managers are taking stock of the violence visited on the premises by striking union members. Despite the open channels of communication provided by the state, the leadership of NLC, RATTAWU, and NUJ chose the path of violence, both in language and action,” Ayantayo said.

He added: “The strike, which the managers have described as an attack and a sign of disrespect for the authorities, has left doubts about the willingness of the leadership of NLC, RATTAWU, and NUJ in Lagos to ensure an amicable resolution of the crisis.”

Lagos State yesterday urged civil servants to redouble their efforts in the discharge of their duties.

Head of Service (HoS), Olabode Agoro, gave this advice at the 2025 first work day inter-denominational prayers and thanksgiving service for public servants.

Agoro, who spoke at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, noted the commitment, loyalty and dedication of public servants.

He said there was need for them to recommit themselves and work in synergy to achieve their goals.

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Agoro added: “Distinguished public servants, it is important for us to pause and reflect on our Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to staff welfare and well-being, which was demonstrated in 2024.’’

Permanent Secretary of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, advised the public servants to be more thankful to God for his protection, provision and grace.

She hailed the workers for maintaining the No. 1 position as the best civil servants in the country.

Prayers and words of exhortation were offered by Muslim and Christian clerics, including Dr. Saheed Ahmad, and the Presiding Chaplain of Chapel of Christ The Light, Rev Oladele Ajayi, and Rev Olurotimi Taiwo, among others.

Mrs. Adaeze Nwankwo from Epe Division of Lagos State has won the ‘Every Home A Garden’ competition in Lagos State. She went away with N2.5 million.

The competition was under  Agriculture and Food Security Programme of Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu.

Mrs. Nwankwo was announced winner in Lagos by the governor’s wife, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu at Lagos House in Ikeja.

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said Mrs. Nwankwo’s performance at the national competition earned her N1 million from Mrs. Tinubu, and extra N500,000 from National Agricultural Development Fund.

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The governor’s wife also gave Mrs. Nwankwo another N1 million, making her prize money N2.5 million.

In addition, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu announced a N500,000 cash prize for each of the four winners from the remaining four divisions – Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Badagry and Ikeja. All 152 participants who made it to the grand finale would get N100,000 each.

She added: “I encourage you to sustain home gardening, incorporate it into your lives and make it a sustainable way of life.”

On whether the competition will hold next year, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said she would wait for a signal from Mrs. Tinubu.

Wife of Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, described the competition as a ‘testament that we can achieve a greater Lagos’.

Government College, Ikoyi, Lagos State,  has hosted the inaugural Top Scholars Initiative.

Michael Akapo, facilitator, hailed Mrs. Omoloye Olakawe, who represented the governor’s wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.

He noted the programme was to celebrate academic excellence and motivate pupils.

Akapo emphasised importance of quality education, a priority for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and assured that students’ progress would be monitored.

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The headteacher lauded the initiative, announcing that three pupils would receive scholarships after their WAEC examinations.

The programme featured performances by pupils, including poems, spoken word, brain teasers, and storytelling.

Mrs. Olakawe praised the initiative and reiterated Lagos State’s commitment to educational development through programmes like Lagos Boy Child Initiative and efforts to combat gender-based violence.

The event concluded with distribution of textbooks, stationery, and bags.

Lagos State Chapter of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS)  has affirmed that Chief Yusuf Alaka remains president based on its 2017 constitution.

This followed the purported election of Dr Bodunde Samuel at the weekend  as new Lagos president and other executives.

Speaking at mews conference, Alaka noted that he had never received any letter of suspension from any quarters, and was shocked that another person had replaced him as president.

He noted that the association would resist any attempt to circumvent its constitution in electoral matters as he has barely clocked a year.

Alaka regretted that certain individuals allegedly froze account of the state chapter.

The association  urged members to disregard a suspension letter claiming  he has been suspended. It insisted  Alaka is Lagos chapter president.

“We appeal to individuals involved, including our valued members, stakeholders, government agencies, private organisations, and the public, to ignore and discredit information contained in the fraudulent suspension letter that has been circulating.

“It is crucial that no one engages or cooperates with the unauthorised persons responsible for this false communication. We emphasise importance of verifying any directives or communications through the official channels associated with the National Executive Council to avoid any confusion.

“Chief Alaka Yusuf and the Lagos State Executive Council remain in office and have the support and recognition of the authentic National Executive Council of NAPPS, Nigeria. For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Alaka-Yusuf Lukman was elected and sworn in as chairman of NAPPS, Lagos State, with the 2017 constitution of our noble association, and has been fulfilling the responsibilities,” the association said  in a statement.

Sakeholders have urged Lagos State to strengthen key economic sectors to avert future domestic and global shocks that may hamper development.

The call came at the second ‘Economic Outlook 2025 – Building Resilience in times of Global and Domestic Shocks’, organised by Economic Intelligence Department (EID) in Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

Lead paper presenter and President of Nigerian Economic Society (NES), Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, likened Lagos with Jarkata, Indonesia, with over 10 million population. According to him, the state has resources to ride on its achievements in building a more resilient economy.

He said: “Lagos needs financial independence and stability. Lagos is doing well in terms of IGR, but they have to expand that by accelerating  diversification of the economy; inspire tax system; build fiscal profile; establish political bonds; collaborate with development banks; sustain efforts like Lagos-Kebbi partnership, ensure budget efficiency, develop industrial parks to boost manufacturing to grow GDP.”

Adenikinju said the government should create more opportunities for domestic entrepreneurs, which ‘would mean more revenue generation and expansion for the state’.

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The don reiterated that government must pay increased attention to social welfare and inclusion, especially at this time of economic harshness.

Chief Executive of Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba, said the government should harness opportunities in transportation.

He, however, hailed the government’s initiatives in the sector, but stressed there are yet untapped prospects within it.

Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Ope George said: “This discourse provides a platform to address these challenges and explore forward-thinking strategies to bolster Lagos’s fiscal space, sustain economic growth, and enhance resilience.

“It aligns with the vision in the ‘Budget of Sustainability’, which underscores our commitment to sustaining development amid uncertainties.”

The commissioner noted further that ‘Lagos ranked as the fourth wealthiest city on the continent and sixth largest economy, our position is a  testament to our resilience and ingenuity. However, these achievements do not shield us from challenges posed by global and domestic economic shocks’.

Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Olanrewaju Layode, has given assurances that the state government would continue to give utmost priority to training and re-training of its staff in order to keep them abreast of global best practices in service delivery.

He gave this assurances on Tuesday, during the kick-off of a two-day in-house training programme organised by the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board for its staff, at the Shamsi Adisa Thomas (SAT) Mosque Hall, Ikeja.

A statement released by the Board’s Public Affairs Officer, Taofeek Lawal, quoted Layode as saying that the training was in accordance  with the THEMES+ Agenda.

 He stated that it was designed to further enrich the knowledge of the staff, especially the Schedule Officers (Local Government Coordinators) in order to adequately prepare them for the Y2025 Hajj and Umrah operations both in Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Commissioner also  cautioned the participants against revealing official secret.  “I beseech all participants to remember their Oath of Secrecy which bound all officers from revealing official matters without authorization. It is expected of all staff to keep government’s secret, secret”, he said.

Speaking on the central theme of the training ‘Work Ethics/Rudiments of Hajj and Umrah Operations’, Layode emphasized that the topics were carefully considered to address various issues and challenges that constantly cropped up during the pilgrimage exercises both in Nigeria and the Holy land.

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He expressed his confidence in the ability of the facilitators to deliver on the topics.

He said: “I have no doubt that the facilitators, Mr. Muftau Okoya and Mr. Rahman Ishola (both former Board Secretaries) are well grounded to do justice to the topics and adequately prepare our officers for the task ahead”. While urging the  participants to see the training as an avenue to further broaden their knowledge about new trends in Hajj and Umrah administrations, he encouraged them to tap from the wealth of experience of the facilitators who are seasoned administrators in their own rights, with a view to deploying same in their future official assignments.

The facilitators which includes Mr. Rahman Olajuwon Ishola, Director Admin. & Human Resource, Central Business District (CBD) delivered lecture on “Work Ethics/Rudiments of Hajj and Umrah Operations during Day one on Tuesday while Mr. Muftau Adeniyi Okoya, a retired Director, delivered lecture on “Responsibility of Coordinators – Pre and during Hajj operations”, during Day two of the training on Wednesday.  Goodwill messages were given by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Dr. Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Adewunmi Gbolahan Ogunsanya and Board Chairman, Imam Shakiru Ayinde Gafar, represented by Dr Faosat Dabiri (Lagos division) while the Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede gave a welcome address.

Other Government functionaries pressent at the opening ceremony are Waheed Lolade Shonibare (Ikeja division); Alhaji Yusuf Ara (Epe division) and Secretary, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe.

Lagos State, stakeholders in tax collection and administration have begun discussions on ways to unlock new revenue streams.

Speaking at Eko Revenue Plus Summit 2024 in Lagos,  Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Taxation and Revenue, Opeyemi Ogungbo, said the summit was to provoke initiatives and innovations to boost revenue drive and support projects.

 He said the theme: “Unlocking New Revenue Streams for Lagos State,” was designed to begin the journey of building on our traditional way of generating revenue into a realm where we can achieve growth in our resources.

“We have designed and reviewed our revenue processes with the goal of streamlining our processes and optimising operational system to improve ease of doing business in revenue value-chain to serve individual and corporate organisations better.”

Continuing, he said: “With support of Mr. Governor, we have built and deployed an artificial intelligence tool that automates enquiries to support payers and provide real-time information to stakeholders. We have adopted use of Unique Payer ID to ensure compliance and improve our data management”.

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Ogungbo said digital economy, informal sector, secular economy, property and energy woould be key areas of discourse. He said unlocking new revenue streams for the state is not a task that can be accomplished by any one sector.

 He said the summit is testament to Lagos shared vision of fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth in revenue systems.

Commissioner for Finance, Abayomi Oluyomi, said the tax reform bills in National Assembly would form a point of discussion at the summit.

He said the tax bills would address aspects of taxation, including tax administration, tax protection, among others.

“So, as we deliberate, let us be aware of these tax bills, which is to harmonise tax system in Nigeria,” Oluyomi said.

He said the robustness of Internet-generated revenue championed and delivered by Sanwo-Olu produced results.

He said Lagos financial management strategy was aligned with its commitment to sustainability, sustainable financing and safeguarding well-being of future generations.

“That is, prioritising projects that promote economic inclusivity, social development, and environmental justice. This revenue summit was designed to ensure every stakeholder sees the value of contributing to our success,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Armstrong Takang, who represented Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the economy, Wale Edun, urged Lagos to lead the conversation on growing the economy and techniques of ensuring there is a higher level of tax compliance and increasing revenue.

“In the sense that whatever happens in Lagos symbolises what happens in the Nigerian economy. And the lessons that learned in that process are lessons other states can borrow from. I do know, by virtue of what I do, that when I consult governors and sub-nationals, they always talk about the fact that we want to do what Lagos is doing,” he said.

He challenged Lagos to not just be a large player in terms of GDP, but also in terms of resources put at the disposal of the people.

He urged the state to recognise that it has a key role in enabling activities of private sectors, which are meant to drive economic growth.

Sanwo-Olu said the government’s ability to deliver on infrastructure and other projects depends on its ability to earn more.

“If we can earn more, we can implement more…” he said.

He said although Lagos generates between 40 to 50 per cent of Value Added Tax collectible, but at the end of the day, it gets less than 10 per cent of it.

He said the summit provides opportunity for stakeholders to ventilate ideas and suggestions on how best to optimise revenue generation in the state.

He said Lagos contributes between 25 to 35 per cent to GDP. He said the budget is driven by the capacity of revenue the state can generate.

Sanwo-Olu said Lagos revenue should be between N6.5 to N7 trillion, adding the state’s ability to do more depends on revenue at its disposal.