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Tag: lagos

  • Lagos eyes N897b revenue as Ambode signs 2018 budget

    •Land Use Charge implementation begins 

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday signed the 2018 Appropriation Bill with  N1.046 trillion budget size into law.

    The states’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) target is  N897 billion. The rest of the budget will be funded through deficit financing.

    The budget comprises of N347.038 billion to be funded from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and N699.082 billion from the Development Fund for both capital and recurrent expenditure. It is for the year ending December 31, 2018.

    The Governor also signed two critical bills into law. They are the Consolidated Transport Sector Bill and the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission Bill.

    The Transport Sector Law 2018 provides for the development and management of a sustainable transport system in the State, as well as development, management and maintenance of transport infrastructure and facilities within the State.

    The law also regulates the provision of an efficient transport delivery system and ensures availability of a safe and affordable transportation system. It is hoped that with this law, an efficient integrated transport management system will evolve in the State.

    On the other hand, the Teaching Service Commission Law 2018 provides for the control and management of teaching service matters in the State, and for connected purposes.

    The law regulates and co-ordinates the management of teaching service matters and provides uniform guidelines for the effective management of Post-Primary Schools in the State.

    Governor Ambode, while presenting the 2018 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly, had pledged that his administration would make every effort to complete all ongoing projects as well as initiate new ones to consolidate on the development recorded in the last two and half years.

    Also speaking, Commissioner for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade put the IGR projection at N897 billion, while the remaining part of the budget would be funded by deficit financing.

    The Lagos State Government has also started the distribution of the 2018 Land Use Charge demand notices for properties across the state to enable it boost its Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) to boost infrastructure development.

    The distribution which commenced last week ought to have been carried out much earlier in the year, but was delayed by a review of the Land Use Charge Act by the State House of Assembly.

    The review process entailed a repeal of the old law, public hearings and enactment of a replacement by the House of Assembly on January 28, before it was signed into law on February 8.

    According to Ashade, the State House of Assembly decided to review the law in the light of some of the inefficiencies that had become associated with the old Land Use Charge act.

    “As noted by the Honourable Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, only a small fraction of taxable properties were actually remitting Land Use Charge to the government,” Ashade said.

    “To make matters worse, the land use charge rates had over time gradually become rather obsolete.” In addition, he said, determination of the rates payable by property owners was often questionable because the formula could be applied in a subjective manner”.

    The new Land Use Charge regime, said Ashade, sets out to correct the shortcomings in the previous regime. For instance, the new regime allows for property owners to calculate by themselves the rates payable by them, once they have determined the market value of their properties.

    “This way, rates payable are transparent and standardized such that property owners are charged identical rates for properties of identical dimensions being used for identical purposes in the same locality.”

     

     

    Ashade added that the State Government is very mindful of the impact of the current economic situation in the country on residents of the State, pointing out that the new Land Use Charge regime has several inbuilt reliefs for Lagosians. For instance, senior citizens (citizens aged 70 years and above) who live in their own houses, are exempted from paying Land Use Charge. The same applies to properties owned by religious and not-for-profit organizations where such properties are not profit-yielding. Physically challenged citizens also enjoy considerable discounts on their computed charges. In the same light, every Land Use Charge bill benefits from a discount of 40 percent and an additional 15 percent discount if the bill is paid promptly.

    “The new Land Use Act as recently passed by the House of Assembly is designed to enhance the overall efficiency of the Land Use Charge regime to enable government become even better equipped to continue the infrastructure regeneration that is currently being aggressively implemented across Lagos State,” he emphasized.

    “We have been very encouraged by the responses we have received so far as a good number of Lagosians have since gone ahead to make payment. This is very commendable and we extend our thanks and appreciation to them for discharging their civic responsibilities promptly.”

    Ashade acknowledged that some others have raised questions about their bills. “We are also engaging a handful of Lagosians who have raised legitimate concerns about their bills. We have a full-fledged Help Desk manned solely dedicated to managing and resolving such complaints,” he said. He advised Lagosians seeking more clarity about their bills to contact the Lagos Land Use charge Help Desk adding that the Help Desk contact details including email and telephone numbers are clearly stated on the demand notices.

    Property enumerators, Ashade added, are also being deployed across the state to verify not only the dimensions and reasonable market value of properties but also the use to which these properties are deployed. The essence, he explained, is to enhance the accuracy of Land Use Charge determination. “I want to appeal to my dear fellow Lagosians to kindly avail these enumerators of as much cooperation as possible to ensure accurate determination of Land Use Charge for all.”

     

  • Lagos CJ’s score card in 100 days

    Lagos CJ’s score card in 100 days

    At her inauguration last October as the 16th Chief Judge (CJ) of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, promised that the judiciary would uphold the rule of law, stamp out  corruption and ensure the speedy dispensation of justice.

    Justice Oke promised improved public access, transparency and accountability to boost confidence of the public in the judiciary. In addition, she promised to key into the vision of the governor to transform the Judiciary, such that it would stand shoulder to shoulder with any other  in any part of the world.  She said it was a new dawn.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who swore in the Chief Judge, had called for more reforms aimed at fast-tracking justice delivery without necessarily compromising the fundamental principle of fair hearing and the rule of law in the judiciary.

    On areas requiring improvement, Ambode called for a Judicial system that would improve speed of justice delivery so that the wheel of justice can roll faster without having to  compromise the fundamental principle of fair hearing and the rule of law. The governor charged the CJ to sustain and improve on the reputation that the state Judiciary had built over the years.

    About 100 days down the line, how has the Judiciary fared under her watch?

     

    Assumption of office

    The first task of Justice Oke, on assumption of duty, was to herald the 2017/2018 new Legal year tagged: the Golden Jubilee of the Lagos Judiciary. The five-day event had notable legal personnels, including members of the bar and the bench, in attendance. Highlight of the new Legal Year programme was a seminar held to determine the way forward and achieving a desirable judiciary system in Lagos.

     

    On corruption

    One issue stands Justice Oke out among her peers: her resolve to rid the state judiciary of corruption. Upon her assumption of duty, Justice Oke used the platform of the new legal year, her first official outing, to announce that it was no longer going to be business as usual. In her address, she warned the bar against unnecessary adjournments, saying that any lawyer caught in such unholy practice stands the risk of losing his practice licence.

     

    Arraignment of workers for alleged

    corrupt practices

    To match her words with action, Justice Oke disclosed plans to arraign some workers of the judiciary for alleged corruption.

    They include three workers in the Litigation Registry of the Lagos State Judiciary and a youth corper (names with held) arrested for alleged corrupt practices November. Also to be arraigned alongside the staff of the state judiciary was a tout who has been in the habit of impersonating as a staff of judiciary and defrauding court users.

    She said another court registrar is also going to appear before the Judiciary Service Commission soon for alleged corrupt practices.

    She said the magistrate the registrar was working with filed a report against him that he asked a party in a suit to pay him N50,000 to get the court to make an order in his favour.

    Justice Oke said the workers had appeared before the Lagos State Judiciary Staff Commission, which looked into the matter against them, adding that the incident marked the end of their career.

    “The bar is also determined to fight corruption with us. The members of the bar are the users of the court. They too have promised to report back to us”, she said.

    Justice Oke said the bar had also resolved to flush out “ accidental lawyers” in their midst in their determination to fight corruption in the Judiciary.

     

    Commitment statement

    As part of her efforts to change the face of the judiciary in the state, Justice Oke came up with a commitment statement which today has become a guiding principle of effective service delivery in the judiciary. It stated:

    “ We the staff of the Lagos State Judiciary are committed to Lagos State and the Community.

    “Our mission is to provide quality and professional service in a knowledgeable manner.

    “We take pride in our work and hold ourselves accountable to the highest standard of performance. “Our goals are achieved through mutual co-operation, a strong sense of integrity, a positive attitude and team work”.

    The commitment statement was unveiled last November at Ikeja, Igbosere and Ikorodu high courts’ premises, Justice Taylor Magistrate’s court house, Igbosere, Botanical gardens, Ebute Metta Magistrate’s court premises and Yaba Magistrate’s court premises respectively and is hung in every court room.

    Justice Oke said the Commitment Statement being inaugurated was intended to embolden  the public to challenge any worker of the Judiciary who asked to be paid before serving them and to make formal report against such staff.

    “We don’t want anybody to destroy the Lagos State Judiciary. The Judges are fully in support of the fight we are waging against corruption in the system”, she stated.

     

    Visit to Badagry Prison

    On  November 9, Justice Oke was in Badagry, with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the inauguration of the Justice Thomas Court House. She took advantage of the event to pay an unscheduled visit to Badagry Prison, which has become famous for having children as inmates.

    The visit paid off as she freed four sick inmates who were being held in custody after being convicted for “having no visible means of livelihood”. Justice Oke had then questioned where such offence existed in the laws of the state and admonished the police to stop charging children to court for non-existing laws and magistrates to stop sending children to prisons.

     

    Workshop for service delivery

    On November 28, the Chief Judge  organised a four-day workshop for workers of the judiciary which has as its theme: Towards an efficient and effective administration of justice system in Lagos State.

    Justice Oke emphasised  that it was a new dawn in the Judiciary as her administration would not tolerate  any vices from any worker. The CJ  restated her commitment to fighting corruption in the judiciary to a standstill.

    She urged judiciary worker to key into her commitment statement designed to ensure efficient and effective service delivery  as stated in her new legal year address or be shown the way out of the system.

    “Let me state emphatically that it is a new dawn in the Lagos State Judiciary as this administration will not tolerate such vices from any member of staff. This administration will by the grace of God Almighty have zero tolerance for corruption in whatever form. The new Lagos State Judiciary must epitomise discip-line, honesty, hard work. integrity, credence, dignity, honour and zeal for results and excellence”.

    She said:”The essence of this workshop again is to promote a new ethical orientation into the consciousness of all staff. It has become necessary to do away with the old spirit of doing things and for a new spirit which will give positive image to the Lagos State Judiciary.

     

    Courts visits

    Last December, Justice Oke visited  court premises across the states to examine the state of the facilities  and the challenges and rehabilitate them into structures befitting status of courts.

     

    New dawn in the judiciary

    On January 2, Justice Oke introduced oath of secrecy and allegiance for supporting staff of judges who she said are bound by the same rules as the judges they serve. She emphasised the need for judiciary staff working directly with the judges to swore to the oaths and be part of the oath regime to ensure accountability and transparency within the system.

     

    Committee to review High Court of

    Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012

    On January 22, the Chief Judge set up a 15-man committee to review the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012 to eradicate delay in justice  administration, ensure efficient justice delivery and enforcement of judgement.The committee has Justice Kazeem Alogba as its chairman.

    The chief judge charged the committee to, for instance, “look into stipulation of timeline for handling of specific matters”. The committee is also  “to consider the viability of extending timeliness to probate, sexual offences and land related matters” to facilitate speedy dispensation of justice in these areas.

     

    Special Courts

    Most important event within the period under review was the inauguration of Special Courts  for corruption, economic crimes and sexual offences.

    Justice Opeyemi Oke  said four courts had been set aside as special courts.

    “We believe strongly that the special courts shall fast track the trial of these types of cases and encouraged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant bodies like ICPC to expedite the investigation and prosecution of such cases,” she said.

     

    Lawyers’ view of Justice Oke’s

    100 days in office

    Nigerian Bar Assocuation (NBA) Chairman, Mr A. S. Abimbola said the first 100 days in office of Justice Oke, as Chief Judge of Lagos State has been one full of activities, the most notable being her anti-corruption stance and her efforts to reposition the Lagos State Judiciary to be more used friendly to court users.

    “I applaud, particularly, the crafting of a mission statement for the Lagos State Judiciary (LASJ) as well as the conscious efforts to interface with the public. While lauding the achievements of her Lordship in these 100 days, I urge that she sustains  the tempo”, he advised

    Chairman, NBA Ikorodu Mr Levi Adakwaone said Oke’s decision and resolve to root out corruption from the state judiciary has earned her a place in the history book: her focus, doggedness, consistency in the fight is quite strange and incredible!

    Adakwaone said the CJ within her few months in office has emboldened the confidence of lawyers in the state, and beyond in the fight against corruption.

    “Officially, I followed her when she launched her pet project: vision, mission and commitment statement against corruption in the judiciary in all the courts in the state and the impact of this innovation and cause is so incredible: the judges, the magistrates, the litigants, the support staff, the paralegals, the lawyers and anti- corruption crusaders are better for it. On February 14, she executed a sting operation at the Probate Registry, Lagos and the exercise is something the lawyers  would forever be grateful for.

    “One unique quality about the Hon.Chief Judge is her ability to harness the resources around her: she has formed a strong synergy with the office of the governor, the Ministry of Justice, her professional colleagues (especially the Administrative judges), the leadership of the Bar in the state, the press and the people: I have no doubt in my mind that if she continues the way she is going, she would leave behind gargantuan legacies that would be very difficult to obliterate,” he said.

    Adakwaone however, urged the chief judge  to focus on infrastructure development: ‘’The judges and the magistrates must have a conducive environment to do their jobs. They should be provided with quarters not too far from their place of work. There is need to ensure that prosecutors in the state judiciary are all lawyers, the Probate Registry at Igbosere needs as a matter of urgency, a better office space with modern gadgets, ditto for its counterpart at Ikeja.”

    Former Chairman, Lagos NUJ and Chairman, Egbe Amofin ni Eko, Mr Martin Ogunleye also noted that the few months the chief judge has spent in office has been one full of activities, the most notable being her anti-corruption stance and her efforts to reposition the Lagos State Judiciary to be more used friendly to court users.

    Said Ogunleye: “I applaud, particularly, the crafting of a mission statement for the LASJ as well as the conscious efforts to interface with the public.

    ‘’While lauding the achievements of her Lordship in these 100 days, I urge that she sustains  the tempo.’’

    Former Chairman, NBA Ikeja, Mr Yinka Farounbi noted that had not derailed from the mission statement which enjoyed the approval of the Bar.

    He noted: “In the mission statement however, the fight against corruption stood out like the northern star and I believe it makes more impart in the minds of the generality of the people, particularly the lawyers and the litigants – and I think it ought to be on the nation as a whole because of its overall effect on our economy and perception by the outside world. In this regard, we have seen a number of judicial staffers facing one panel or the other for corruption. I reliably gathered that about five judicial workers had been dismissed for similar corruption cases.

    “Despite this, however, I venture to say that it is not yet uhuru for so many reasons. In the first instance, corruption as usual is fighting back. The Chief Judge will have to be resolute in the pursuit of the agenda of zero tolerance for corruption in the judiciary. Again, the fight has to be done and fought with special speed as if tomorrow may not come in view of the limited period at His Lordship’s disposal. More importantly, the judiciary as a whole must be the catchment area. Corruption is not limited to among the workers alone, we equally have corruption among our magistrates and judges that will need her attention. I, however, make bold to say that one can swear with heaven concerning the integrity and uprightness of some of our magistrates and judges. One rotten apple however makes the others to be bad,” he urged.

    Farounbi further urged the CJ “to enforce discipline among lawyers by making adequate use of the provisions of the Rules, particularly, as regard issues of cost in Order 49. I urge the Chief Judge to take the welfare of the judicial workers as a priority pointing out that a highly motivated labour force will be highly productive and less corrupt’’.

    ‘’So far so good the CJ is on the right path with the mission statement of the administration but with a lot of rooms for improvement. It is the continuous exploration of the improvement that will mark out the government as a special one which I pray it should be. In doing this, I urge the CJ to take the welfare of the judicial workers as a priority – a highly motivated labour force will be highly productive and less corrupt.

    ‘’Finally for now, I urge the CJ to involve all stakeholders in the administration of justice system in Lagos State – litigants, civil societies, labour, NBA and seasoned court room legal practitioners – in the ongoing review of the 2012 Rules with the view of having a befitting Rules. In saying this, l am not oblivious of the notice from the committee calling for memoranda from the public,’’ he added.

     

     

     

  • Chinese girl rides bicycle from Morocco to Lagos

    Chinese girl rides bicycle from Morocco to Lagos

    A Chinese female cyclist, Huang Shuang, who rode from Morocco to Lagos, Nigeria, within five months, says she is convinced that anybody can achieve anything he or she determines to do.

    Huang, also known as CICI, told our reporters in Lagos on Monday that she was inspired to embark on ‘`cycling around the world’’ after riding around her country.

    The cyclist said that her experience in China motivated her to begin global cycling in America where she covered about 5,500 km in two months.

    “I am glad that I have also been able to ride from Morocco to Lagos, Nigeria.

    “ This is an indication that irrespective of our sex, we can achieve anything we set out to do.

    “The whole idea about my cycling started when, one day, I decided to embark on a cycling trip around my country, China.

    “After the trip around China, I was motivated to take my first cycling around the world to America, where I covered about 5,500km in two months.

    “Now, I am in Lagos from Morocco, after I flew from America to France, where I cycled around Europe for four months, before taking ferry from Spain to Morocco,’’ she said.

    Huang said that she always travelled with money, noodles, tent, sleeping bag, clothes and bicycle repair accessories.

    The cyclist, who left Morocco for Lagos on Sept. 6, 2017, said that her trip was fascinating though she experienced tiredness, robbery, accidents and sleeping under bridges and in gas stations.

    Huang said that she crossed the desert within six days and was well received by many African villages.

    The cyclist said that, sometimes, she happily ate local meals made by the villagers.

    ‘`I have happily sung and danced with children in different African villages and communities where I passed the nights or stopped to cook.

    “I have seen the most beautiful sunset, the most stunning mountain views, breath-taking lakes and virgin forests across Africa.

    ‘`My trip has also exposed me to many African children still living in poverty, hunger, without education and basic amenities,’’ she said.

    The Chinese said that she would be cycling to about 33 countries in the next three years, adding that she would continue her cycling from Lagos to Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, East Africa and some other countries.

    Huang said that her cycling was also informed by her desire to interact with children in African communities before inaugurating a free lunch for them in 2018.

    The cyclists said that she hoped to raise some money for the benefit to about 2,000 children.

    NAN

     

  • Lagos ex-workers’ families get N85m death benefits

    Lagos ex-workers’ families get N85m death benefits

    The Lagos State Government has paid 32 families of its  former workers N85 million death benefits.

    The payment was made possible because of the prompt payment of the insurance premium on group life and group accident insurance policy to Lasaco Assurance Plc.

    Speaking at the cheque presentation to the beneficiaries in Lagos, the Head of Service, Mrs Folasade Adesoye  said the payment was neither a favour nor largesse, but rather a responsibility of the government.

    She said the welfare packages, were among other programmes provided by the government for the workers. She listed these as the Group Life Insurance, Group Personal Accident Insurance, Motor Accident Insurance, Property Liability and Marine Insurance as well as coverage for government’s properties.

    The importance that the government attaches to these   packages, among other welfare initiatives, derives mainly from the government’s prioritisation of its workers as its most important asset, she said.

    Mrs  Adesoye said: “The primary policy objective of the payment of insurance death benefits is, therefore, essentially for the funds to serve as succour for the immediate families, dependents and other beneficiaries of the deceased. It is the hope and expectation of the government that the immediate needs of feeding, clothing, schools fees, house rent, transport, medicals and general family well-being would be substantially addressed in the period between the demise of the family’s bread winner, the release of his entitlements and the institution of more permanent support structures.

    “Please endeavour to seek guidance and professional advice from financial consultants and small business experts before taking decisions which could significantly impact your families.”

    The Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Finance, Mrs Funmilayo Balogun advised the beneficiaries to  seek expert before investing the money, especially in business and investments.

    She stressed that the governor has played its role by ensuring that its deceased workers’ families received the money, but that the families have the responsibility to ensure that the money was well spent, especially on the education of the deceased’s children, among others.

    Lasaco Managing Director, Segun Balogun, represented by the General Manager, Dimeji Olona, commended the government for the prompt payment of the workers’ premiums.

    He pointed out that the company would not have been able to pay the claims, if the premiums were not paid.

    He noted that the governor has ensured that the dependants of its workers are not left to suffer.

  • 11 injured in building collapse

    •As LABCA commences building recertification

    Eleven persons yesterday sustained varying degrees of injury after a two-storey building collapsed in Lagos.

    The incident occurred around 3am at 1, Community Road, off Old Otta in Alagbado.

    It was gathered that the fence of the building caved in on Friday night after it rained heavily.

    According to residents, the structure was defective and only had occupants at the topmost floor.

    It was gathered that those who sustained injuries were rushed the hospital before the arrival of emergency workers and 10 of them were discharged after receiving treatment.

    The last victim, it was learnt, was transferred to the General Hospital after doctors recommended scans, advance observations.

    According to the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABCA), Lekan Sodeinde, the structure was substandard and the owners did not get permit to erect it.

    He stated that the building was also erected on a land that had an existing structure.

    Sodeinde said: “The building is an existing structure, it was not under construction. Obviously, the owner did not build well because the structure was defective.

    “From our findings in the neighbourhood, the owner is not someone that is known to always abide by the law. The structure was built at the back of another existing building and it appears substandard materials were used for it. It collapsed completely. That building had no approval.

    “The debris of the building showed that it was weak. People need to understand that building collapse can only be avoided during construction and that is by doing the right things.

    “When you have constructed and you see depreciation in the strength of the building, you need to work on repair. I advise Lagosians to be mindful of where they live. The rain will definitely weaken any poorly constructed structure.

    “The state government is working to ensure that all buildings are recertified. Owners of buildings are expected to come forward for the evaluation of their structures and issuance of certificates.

    “Any building that is considered unsafe for habitation would not be issued the certificate and would be tested to ascertain the extent of work that is needed to be done on it or whether it would be pulled down.

    “Even if you are a tenant and you are living in a building that you are not sure of, you can come to us and we will take it up from there. We have started the revaluation of buildings. We will ensure that the recertification reaches all parts of the state.”

  • Shopper protection: Lagos, HP shut int’l counterfeit operation

    The Lagos State government and a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM), HP, have collaborated to protect shoppers from the menace of counterfeiters.

    Lagos State Police Command, under Commissioner of Police I.O Edgal and HP officials swooped on  a large-scale international counterfeiting operation in the state. As part of the raid, there were several seizures in the Lagos and and also Abuja, in shops, warehouses and at manufacturing sites. The Nigerian officials were seized 142,000 illegal items, which were primarily components for manufacturing counterfeit toner and ink cartridges.

    Counterfeiting is a crime. For users, such illegal imitations can cause a multitude of problems that may lead to performance and reliability issues. Should your printer breakdown because of using counterfeit printer ink or toner, you could also have issues with your manufacturer’s warranty becoming not applicable.

    In contrast, original HP products are designed to meet HP’s strict quality and reliability standards, based on a long history of inventing and testing. Original HP LaserJet and HP inkjet cartridges, unlike counterfeits, benefit from superior performance and consistent results.

    Country Supplies Business Manager, Nigeria and Ghana, Olatunji  Itiola, said: “HP is thrilled to continue its success working with the Nigerian government and authorities, to close down these illegal counterfeit operations. We are proud that the collaboration is working to reduce counterfeiting operations in the region, and bring the associated criminals to justice. With our unwavering efforts and commitment to end these counterfeit operations with local officials, we continue to focus on the safety of our customers through our anti-counterfeiting and fraud programme.”

    Across EMEA over the last five years, approximately 12 million counterfeits and components have been seized by local authorities, supported by HP. HP has conducted over 4,500 audits and inspections (CPPAs and CDIs) of partners’ stocks or suspicious deliveries for customers.

    Through HP’s Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud (ACF) Programme, the company actively educates its customers and partners to be vigilant against fake printing supplies. It also cooperates closely with local and global law enforcement authorities to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components.

  • Stanbic IBTC marks Lagos Social Media Week

    Stanbic IBTC marks Lagos Social Media Week

    Stanbic IBTC will be joining other thought leaders, innovators business practitioners, entrepreneurs, and pop culture luminaries from Nigeria and around the world to commemorate the 2018 Social Media Week (SMW Lagos).

    This year’s event, holding from February 26 to March 2, is themed “Closer,” and seeks to explore the intensifying conflict between communality and individualism.

    According to the organisers, SMW Lagos will focus on ideas, trends, business practices and policies that leverage technology to transform industries and communities across Africa.

    Chief Executive at Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Yinka Sanni, said a demonstration of the organisation’s commitment towards harnessing innovation and technology to build communities is underscored by its sponsorship of and active participation at this year’s Lagos Social Media WeeHe added that the organisation’s objective is therefore to ensure that these communities are well served with financial knowledge.

  • Lagos eyes fiscal autonomy

    Lagos State government yesterday said it is targeting financial autonomy by working hard to grow internally generated revenue (IGR) so that it would rely less on the monthly allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

    The state Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, who spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting on: Fiscalisation of the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Tax Law at the Banquet Hall, State House, Alausa, Ikeja, said the government has invested massively on the provision of infrastructure to meet the ever increasing demand of the people of the state.

    He said the automation of tax collection through the Electronic Revenue Assurance (ERA) system for hotels, restaurants, night clubs and event centres in the state was designed to make room for efficient tax collection and remittance to the state government.

    Represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Idiat Aderanti Adebule on the occasion, the governor said he has directed the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to work together to prosecute tax defaulters and evaders in the state.

    The move of the government is in compliance with the extant Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Tax Law of Lagos State as amended. The law imposes a five per cent consumption tax on all expenditures made on products and services at the hospitality outlets. The governor cited Rwanda, Ethiopia, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Quebec, Russia, Czech Republic, Italy and others as countries that have successfully implemented e-invoicing. He urged all taxable adults and organisations to pay tax for the development of the state.

    Also speaking, Finance Commissioner, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, said Nigeria has improved on the World Bank Ease of Doing business report and in tax payment from 182 to 171, there is still more room for tax payment. He said the ERA system will be beneficial to collecting agents as they will have unhindered access to information on all sales transactions irrespective of the location of owners or approved personnel.

  • Rating firm names best dry cleaning firms in Lagos

    Nabioet Eagle Limited, a business consultancy firm in Lagos, has released the report of its survey on the topnotch companies in dry cleaning business in Lagos State.

    The result of the exercise,  conducted in the fourth quarter of last year, showcased the best professional dry cleaners on a league table from thousands of quacks, whose ill-structured services only cause pain to customers.

    According to the report, leading the dry cleaning companies with aggregate score include Garment Care Limited; Clean Ace and Snow Flakes and Laundry by Time Signature Limited. Others that made it to top 11 on the table include, West Man Quest Limited; Nathan’s Superior Dry Cleaners; The Laundry Box Limited; Laundry House Co.; Discount Dry Cleaners; Safi.ng and Laundry King Limited.

    The report, which is commendable as the first of its kind in the dry-cleaning sub-sector of Lagos State, is well-researched to discourage those who may continue patronising dry-cleaning outfits in the non-professional category.

    According to the report, the dry cleaning industry like every other unregulated sector has hundreds, if not thousands of service providers playing both in the professional and non-professional category. In line with the fundamental goal of the assessment, the report, according to the agency would help foster healthy competition in the industry and encourage better service quality delivery to customers.

    One interesting thing about the report is the methodology employed and deployed by the research firm, which enabled them to arrive at the their decision.

    A closer look at the report showed that key attributes considered were directly derived through the use of direct  experience, customer survey, review of critical impressions points, mystery shopping, assessment through online professional tools and assessment of platforms.

  • Lagos, PSP operators, Visionscape resolve differences

    Lagos, PSP operators, Visionscape resolve differences

    The differences which gave rise to emergence of refuse across Lagos State over the implementation of a new waste management policy encapsulated in the Cleaner Lagos Initiative have been resolved, with all the key players agreeing to sheath their sword and collaborate in order to ensure cleaner, prosperous and healthier environment in the state.

    The resolve to collaborate was reached on Thursday at a meeting held between officials of the Lagos State Government, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions and Waste Collection Operators (WCOs), also known as Private Sector Participant (PSP) Operators.

    Speaking at the meeting, the State’s Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said that government was interested in easing challenges being experienced in Waste Management at present by creating synergy between Visionscape and the WCOs in their spheres of operation, stressing that resolving the challenge in a mutually beneficial manner was the best approach.

    “Government more than ever believes in this partnership and that is why it has not only provided a facility of up to N2.5b with State Government guarantee, which PSP Operators could access to upscale their operations, but has also opened another channel through the Employment Trust Fund for loan facilities at reasonable interest of not more than 12% per annum”, he said.

    The Environment Commissioner stated that the Lagos State Government was determined to remove all bottlenecks hindering seamless waste disposal operations, adding that it was making the bold move of targeting a turn-around time of thirty minutes at the dumpsites by encouraging concerned stakeholders to create additional platform at the sites.

    He emphasized that no efforts would be spared to return the dump sites to sanity by reducing the menace of indiscriminately parked trucks and scavengers, both of which add to the loss of time at the dump sites.

    On his part, Visionscape’s Chief Executive Officer, John Irvine, applauded the new found understanding between his company and the Waste Collection Operators and stated that challenges being experienced in domestic waste management in Lagos State had to do with the fact that the domestic waste operator was just in its first cycle of operation, meaning that it must contend with some teething problems.

    His words: “It is not unusual to face this kind of problems especially in the first cycle of operations. It takes some time to build the superstructures and to ameliorate the present hiccups; we are buying locally and taking steps to have waste container bins manufactured locally.”

    Speaking on behalf of the WCOs, Kasumu Afis Olasehinde reiterated their commitment to the success of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative and pledged to roll out more trucks to rid Lagos of Wastes’ black spots.

    “To show our total commitment to a cleaner, healthier and safer Lagos, we have not only resolved to work with the Government of Lagos State and the domestic waste operators as partners, we have also resolved to commence free Operations every Thursdays to mop up black spots in our respective areas” he said.

    It was agreed at the meeting that a seamless process should be put in place on how Visionscape and the PSPs will partner on the door-to-door collection of waste from March 1.

    It was also agreed that Visionscape would take the PSPs on a tour of the Epe Landfill, the first engineered landfill in West Africa.

    The meeting also agreed to set up a committee comprising all the stakeholders to ensure smooth operation of the project.

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