The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Performance

  • Appraising Aregbesola’s performance

    Appraising Aregbesola’s performance

    Less than a year from today, Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure as governor of Osun State will come to a close. A time like this therefore presents an opportunity to review his performance in office, vis-à-vis, his administration’s Six Point Integral Action Plan.

    Though it has become fashionable for the opposition to look for partners in its dubious search for raw materials to power its odious charades, a closer assessment of the specific swill lead Nigerians to draw appropriate conclusions on the success or otherwise of Aregbesola’s government. For instance, if the governor’s desire was to move the state from a public service economy to its rightful place as an agrarian state, how has he fared in activating market-driven value chain? If his vision and mission found solace in setting Osun on a genuine path to socio-economic development, hasn’t he done well in plucking a coin out of the mouth of the fish? What was the state of our roads before Aregbesola’s inauguration and why has his desire to make Osun the food hub of the South-west been misconstrued for avenues to siphon funds out of the state by a misguided and disgruntled clique? How has he been able to provide a soft landing for the salary bug, which no doubt has also caught up with Abuja?

    Again, has Ogbeni betrayed the trust of his people or is it a case of his traducers woefully failing to purge their dirty excesses before coming to the table to seek equity? Is it an issue of the achiever, unsuspectingly shifting away from blowing his own trumpet loud enough to wake even the dead or that of the audience provably imprisoned by mute indifference? Perhaps more importantly; is it one of unreconstructable spinners notoriously trying to destroy the threads of communal togetherness woven together over a long period of time?

    With a motivation to rapidly develop the state in all ramifications as well as enhance the capacity of the people, Aregbesola’s government has in the last seven years delivered “all round” development to at least 75% improvement on what it met in 2010. While the administration has been consistent in its investment in infrastructure without undermining welfare, lives of children, youths, adults, aged and the weak have also been positively impacted in line with its Social Protection programmes. In addition to ‘Opon Imo’ (Tablet of Knowledge), this administration’s ‘O’ Series have not gone without bearing positive fruits.

    As we all know, Aregbesola’s intervention in the education sector is not limited to provision of infrastructure as government has so far been training a third of teachers in its public schools on a yearly basis. Besides, the state’s sterling performance in the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) is better understood from the context of where we are coming from. As at 2010, the performance level of students in WASCE was 15.7%. Within the last seven years, Osun has recorded as high as 46.3%, which is quite a huge jump in the number of students with credit passes in English Language and Mathematics. The state’s position (between 1st and 3rd, since 2013) in the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) eligible students in Nigeria has rubbished the premise that WAEC rankings of states alone should be the basis for judging performance.

    That Aregbesola has succeeded to a very large extent in all the critical indices is already settled. For example, within the last seven years, Osun has ranked second on Human Capital Index and has maintained the position in four years in a roll in the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). Besides, it is now the fifth largest economy in Nigeria with its GDP growing at 7.3% per annum. And, as we speak, Osun is the second richest and the 13th crime-free state in Nigeria.

    Enrolment rate for the state’s children in primary school hovers between 70% and 80% – about the highest in the country – while its performance ratings in NECO have also been in the units. In broiler production, Osun is now second only to Oyo State. It also came ninth in the recently-concluded National Youth Games, a feat that has for a long while eluded the state.

    Lest we forget, Aregbesola’s civil servants-friendly disposition could also be seen in his commitment of more than N200 billion to salaries and pension allowances, compared to less than N60bn spent on infrastructure. It is also worth mentioning that, under its O’MEAL programme, government has so far committed more than N10 billion to providing over-200 million plates of highly nutritious meals to students in its elementary schools across the state.

    Pre-2011, Osun could not boast of a recreation spot anywhere in the state. Now, Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo has added flavour to more than 80 tourist centres scattered all over the nooks and crannies of the state for fun-seekers to make merry. And, with more than 200 hotels, some of which can compete favourably in the comity of hospitality business, the state’s revenue base is assured of a huge boost. The cargo airport project and the signing of a N216 billion investment in Industrial Park with a Chinese firm, Jiangsu Wuxi Taihu Cocoa Food Company Limited, also point to a ”fresh deal” for transforming the state’s ”industrial base.”  

    The governor deserves commendation for leading a new understanding in parliamentary local government administration in Nigeria. When fully operational in the first quarter of 2018, facts are that it will, among other advantages, help in expanding the potentials for accountability, transparency and societal capacity building.

    Well, this is where Aregbesola’s accusers deserve some tutorials on the politics and the complexities of capital city centres. As an illustration, though Obafemi Awolowo hailed from Ikenne, he chose Ibadan as capital of the then Western Nigeria to concentrate the greater part of his development efforts. Gawain Bell who served as governor of the old Northern Region between 1957 and 1962 was a South African while Ahmadu Bello, his premier, was from Rabbah in Sokoto. But that never deprived Kaduna its privilege as the administrative capital of the Northern Region. Ditto for Enugu under Michael Okpara whose source was Umuegwu in the present-day Abia State.

     

    • Komolafe writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State.

  • Lawmaker threatens to resign over poor budget performance

    A member of House of Representatives, Bashir Babale (APC – Minjinir/Ungogo – Kano State), has said he will  resign from politics owing to poor performance of annual budgets.

    Babale, who is the deputy chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, spoke at the consideration of the 2018 budget yesterday.

    He said: “Let me inform the House that I have no intention of coming back to the House. We didn’t achieve much with the capital aspect of the 2017 budget. In 2015, we entered a social contract with Nigerians. When we leave here, what would be said about what we have done here?

    “Because of poor revenue generation, the question is what have you done to increase revenue generation? Yes, Mr. President came and talked about the huge chunk voted for capital expenditure. We need to make a distinction between administrative and developmental component of the budget.

    “Some ministries spent N300 million out of the N500 million voted for capital project on administrative training. Another issue we need to look at is the projected oil production of 2.5 million barrels per day, and the current oil price of $62, we need to ask ourselves, why is the oil price currently at this price?

    “There are two reasons – geopolitical upheaval in the Middle East; if today we have some peace in this region, the oil price would come down. And the second reason is the little peace we are having in the Niger Delta; if today there is any crisis in the Niger Delta, we will have a drop in the production volume.”

    The lawmaker regretted that government is not addressing the uncertainty.

    On agriculture, he said: “I have listened to the minister of Agriculture talk about the several hectares of land set aside for irrigation farming, but I asked the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture to supply information on the hectares

    “This is a clarion call for us to do the needful. We have till 2019 to deliver the promises we made to Nigerians. So, this budget and 2019 budget is the only hope we have. We need to shine a microscopic light on the budget wherever there is capital development.”

    Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun, who presided over the plenary, was surprised at Babale’s outburst.

    “I hope you’re not subjected to peer group pressure, because Chika just announced his resignation from politics and I know you two are friends,” he said.

    Abubarkar Chika, another member, had purportedly resigned from politics, and it’s trending on social media.

  • ‘We have delivered credible performance’

    Guinness Nigeria Plc Managing Director, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, said he is satisfied with the first quarter result posted by the company in the period ended 30 September 2017.

    Ndegwa said   notwithstanding the difficult trading conditions which have persisted, the company was still able to deliver a credible performance, especially with a net sales growth of 30 per cent for the quarter.

    A look into the books revealed that Guinness delivered revenue of N29.9 billion and gross profit of N10.4 billion, representing a 30 and 24 per cent increase respectively over the same period last year. The results reflected continued growth within the spirits business as well as benefit of an expanding portfolio; however, this was against the backdrop of lapping the inventory reduction last year.

    The results, released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), also saw the company’s marketing expenses increase by 12 per cent, indicating continued investment behind its brands, while administrative expenses were reduced by 17 per cent, a feat that is said to be driven by the organisation’s productivity agenda.

  • Group hails CJN for improvement in judiciary’s performance

    Group hails CJN for improvement in judiciary’s performance

    A 10group, the International Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Society (IHRACS) has commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen for his leadership pattern, which it said, has resulted in an appreciable improvement in the operations of the Judiciary.

    IHRAS, in a letter to the CJN, dated July 6 by its President and Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Dr. UdoisongUdofia and Mrs. Plangnan Samuel, expressed delight in the Justice Onnghen’s reported commitment to ensuring the independence of the Judiciary, curb corruption and work for prompt justice dispensation.

    The group said it has witnessed improvement in judicial officers’ commitment to codes of ethics, judicial independence, insistence on the respect for rule of law, promotion of human rights and commitment to anti-corruption efforts.

    It said: “IHRAS wishes to inform you that your policies and actions, since assuming office, are yielding positive changes in the Nigerian Judiciary. Please accept our commendation.

    “This commendation cannot be completed without mentioning the contributions of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for their matured approach to protecting and promoting human rights, anti-corruption and rule of law in Nigeria.”

    The group, which said it has monitored the nation’s major courts for some time now, noted that its assessment of the “Nigerian Judiciary and Judicial officers” showed the Judiciary has recorded “a global credit of 70 per cent in the first and second quarters of the year 2017.”

    IHRAS singled out Justices Nnamdi Dimgba, Adamu Kafarati (both of the Federal High Court, Abuja) and Fatun Riman (of the Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa-ibom State) for commendation for having assisted in promoting human rights, judicial accountability and rule of law.

    “These three named outstanding judicial officers should be given a special consideration for their outstanding performances, honesty and promotion of human rights, anti-corruption, judicial independence and rule of law,” IHRAS said.

  • Ogun: Between performance and politics

    I know a couple of people who hail from Abeokuta but have not visited the capital city in more than a decade. There are even indigenes of Ogun that have only read developments at home on the pages of newspapers but have been unable to see those monuments that have created new sights, sounds and taste across the state in the last six years. You probably need a tour guide if you are coming to Abeokuta after a long time; indeed all the city centres across the state!

    Prof. Is-aq Oloyede, former Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin and currently the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was one of the first citizens that appraised the current administration in 2013: “From what I have seen in our state, it is very clear that we have a politician with a difference at the helm of affairs. With the on-going infrastructural revolution, many of us who are indigenes even find it difficult to locate our houses and some prominent places each time we come visiting.”

    I must confess that I was jolted to the marrow when, upon the inauguration of the current government in 2011, I had the first-hand experience of criss-crossing Abeokuta. Why should a state capital look so ancient? The roads were so narrow that they could hardly accommodate pedestrians let alone automobiles, and the houses built so close to the roads such that people rising early morning in their bedrooms could through their windows exchange handshakes with passengers on so-called motorways!

    It was, therefore, not surprising when at the inauguration of the first flyover constructed by any state government since the creation of Ogun in 1976, Dr Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, declared:

    “Today can be likened to the day electricity, pipe borne water and railway first came to Abeokuta. Amosun has changed the city from the status of 19th century to the 21st century.”

    And just before the end of that same year 2013, the highly revered monarch, Dr Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, observed:

    “Your performance has been beyond the imagination of each and every one of us. You have been able to go round the entire Ogun State (with your infrastructural development) without just concentrating on Abeokuta and leaving the rest of us in the wilderness. You have been able to go round Abeokuta,  Ijebu, Remo, Yewa. This is a great thing that has never happened in the state.”

    Abeokuta is the capital of Ogun State and the first port of call for investors and those who need to transact business with government.  Welcoming you to the metropolis on Saturday is the sprawling flyover under construction. It confirms that development is work-in-progress. So many bridges and roads have been completed by the Amosun administration, yet so many needs to be done. Some roads are currently receiving the final layer of asphalt. Ogun State is still a huge construction site.  On January 16, 2015, former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, commented on the sterling performance of Governor Amosun:

    “In 2011, we were not together. We were together before and I did campaign against him. See what he has been able to do in the last three and a half years in the state. I cannot sacrifice performance for party. I never dreamt of having a bridge on a dry land in Ogun State in my life time. Yes, we have Ogun River, where there is a bridge. Go to Ijebu, Sagamu, Ota, what am I seeing? Bridges, not even one, two, three. So, my people, I am not talking about other elections. I have come to tell you that in order to appreciate what this personality has been able to do in the last three and a half years, let us give him our votes. What happened in 2011 was politics, and we can all see the difference between politics and personality.”

    Eminent historian and elder statesman, Prof. Anthony Asiwaju, has equally not been silent: “The Yewa people and by extension, Ogun State have never had it so good since the creation of the state. So we are thanking Senator Ibikunle Amosun for coming to our aid through the construction of a road over 107 kilometres, which cuts across four Local Government Areas in the senatorial district.”

    At the grand reception in Abeokuta on February 2, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari, summed up his impression:

    “I express my gratitude to the Governor of Ogun State for inviting me and identifying with me on his success. He managed to disorientate me. On my commissioning in January 1963 – I was posted to Abeokuta, where Second Inventory Battalion of the Nigerian Army used to be. I said he managed to disorientate me because if you drop me anywhere in Abeokuta and ask me to find where the barracks is, I assure you I will get missing. I am pleased and happy about your success because I think that whatever I knew about Abeokuta, I have lost it. Your programmes are certainly people-oriented.”

    Apart from constructing the first overhead bridges, first 10-lane roads, first world-class model schools, first gated housing estates, the Amosun government was the first to bring into Nigeria the very latest technology of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and made the “maximum donation” of security equipment that the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, confessed he had never witnessed since he had been serving as a Police officer.

    The Amosun administration was also the first to distribute 500 brand new transformers at one fell swoop across the state, first to introduce modern luxury buses and brand new taxis on Ogun highways and first to purchase, in one iconic gesture, such quantum of multi-million naira farm machinery – bulldozers, tractors, ploughs, harrows, slashers and planters.

    The current government moved Ogun State from F9 to A1 in terms of Ease of Doing Business, as reported by the World Bank 2014 Doing Business Report. So far, about 120 multi-billion naira industries have been established in Ogun in the last six years, creating thousands of direct and indirect employment for the teeming youths of the state.

    In spite of the meagre amount Ogun gets from the federation account, the Amosun government has paid above the minimum wage, and implemented it across board, thus making it the only government to achieve such a milestone in Nigeria. It is also the first to introduce a social health insurance scheme in the state, where poor pregnant women and their Under-5 children go to any of the four designated Health Care Providers (private and public) in their respective local councils with their Araya Access Cards (like ATMs) and access free health services anytime, any day, 24/7!

    Saturday, this Governor of many firsts will give her first daughter in marriage. Although he has announced to everyone that the wedding is a private affair, it is certainly impossible to dissuade residents from celebrating with the first family that has accomplished so much in the state in the last six years.

     

    • Soyombo, a media practitioner, sent this piece via densityshow@yahoo.com

  • Water Corporation to improve performance

    Lagos Water Corporation will partner consultants grounded and efficient in using modern and innovative business models, to improve its performance, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Muminu Badmus has said.

    Badmus, an engineer, who spoke at the corporation’s headquarters in Ijora, Lagos, at the launch of its High Impact, Short-term, Quick Win Performance Enrichment Programme (PEP), said: “In modern day business milieu, one cannot be static. It is important to review strategies regularly, to look at where one is coming from, where one is and where one is going. This is the only way to improve services and progress. Lagos Water Corporation cannot be an exception.

    “In April, it partnered 2ML Consulting to develop PEP. The programme is a tool to accelerate the transformation of the corporation towards meeting its aspirations, goals and objectives.

    “The approach we have embarked on is designed as an incentive-based programme that attracts incentives for good performance and stresses target achievement in seven focused areas, namely: maximising sales, improving collection rate, reducing debt rate, reducing water losses, improving staff productivity, improving capacity utilisation and improving response time to customers’ complaints.

    “Today, we are gathered here to witness the launch of PEP with the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the following parties: managing director with head of business streams, managing director with regional business managers, managing director with production managers, regional business managers with regional managers and regional business managers with zonal team leaders.

    “The MoU is commitment to effective service delivery, improvement of revenue and operational efficiency. To make the programme successful, we need to be curious, confident and courageous in our actions.”

  • ‘Chess improves pupils’ performance’

    Chairman, Lilly White Nursery and Primary School, Ilupeju, Lagos, Mr Abayomi Osibanjo, has said  cognitive performance of the child can be enhanced with chess game.

    Osinbajo likened chess to a symbol of life in which  decisions, which might make or mar the players, have to be taken. Therefore, the game improves the ability of the  brain to judiciously articulate and effect  good decision making.

    Osibanjo, who started playing chess 41 years ago, explained that as a early as four years, it is necessary for a child to get familiarised with the game; adding that at five or six, they can then start learning the moves of the game as their cognitive thinking will be able to retain what is learnt.

    Osibanjo, who spoke at the Interschool Chess Tournament held in his school in Ilupeju, Lagos, said: “Chess is more than what it seems on the board.

    “It improves your intelligence quotient. It has shown that students who are exposed to chess at an early stage in life gain the power of concentration. It has also shown that students who play chess improve  thier knowledge of mathematics.

    Students run away from mathematics but if you concentrate, and you are focused, you will conquer.

    “When you play chess, you are exposed to decision making. The chess board, which you are playing  is just a theoretical interactive simulation. That is, you simulate real life on the chess board in the sense that you will find on the board, the decision you are going to make in real life. Should you want to make a move, you are going to use the best move for the circumstances you are faced with which will either affect you positively or negatively. Chess is life.”

  • Ibom Power re-strategises for better performance

    Ibom Power re-strategises for better performance

    Ibom Power Company Limited (IPC) is re-strategising its operations through the implementation of its  Managing Director,  Meyen Etukudo, has said.

    Speaking after a three-day training workshop organised for the board and management of the company at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort in Uyo, the MD said the aim of the workshop was to develop a synergy between the board, management and the staff.

    The workshop was facilitated by PEK International Consulting Networks Limited.

    The workshop dealt with managing stakeholders’ interest, corporate governance and corporate performance, transparency and accountability  and the challenges of good corporate governance.

    Deputy Managing Director Neslon Usiere said the workshop was the first of its kind in Ibom Power Company Limited.

    He said the synergy between the board and management  would develop Ibom Power within the shortest possible time.

    The Chairman of Ibom Power Board of Directors,  Etido Inyang, stated that the re-strategising would actualise  Governor Udom Emmanuel’s vision.

    He lauded the facilitators and urged the board and management to put to use the knowledge gathered at the training in the discharge of their duties.

  • ‘Ambode ‘ll sustain tempo of performance’

    ‘Ambode ‘ll sustain tempo of performance’

    Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Steve Ayorinde spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on the 50th anniversary of the state’s creation, how Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is tackling the challenges of governance and the government’s agenda for a better Lagos. Excerpts:

    What is the significance of this Lagos at 50 celebration?

    The golden jubilee of any individual or institutions is very important. Therefore, anybody who lives up to 50 wants to do something significant, to mark the milestone. So, if you live up to 50, you will not allow it to go by without doing something to mark the age. Lagos at 50 is significant because, as a state, it is not the only one that was created in 1967 by General Yakubu Gowon. But, as you can see, everything is being done to make the celebration worthwhile. And maybe, there some muffled echoes by a couple of other states, acknowledging their existence for 50 years. Some have not given it a thought, but Lagos has been the only state that is celebrating the jubilee with the extra ordinary attention. Lagos, out of a class of 12 that was created in 1967 has remained an indivisible state so far.  Nothing has been created out of Lagos and nothing has been added to it. The indivisibility and its cohesiveness call for celebration. It can also take a lesson from when Lagos celebrated its centenary as a Republic. When Lagos was celebrating the centenary, Nigeria was only 55. The situation was also similar to when Nigeria celebrated its centenary as a geographical area that constitutes Nigeria. And of course, this predates the 55 years or the 100 that we have celebrated in the past. Lagos has always existed. during those days, we interacted with Portuguese and missions. So, in celebrating the 50 years of Lagos as a state, we are also celebrating the rich history of Lagos as a coastal and aquatic region with its enterprising background and people. Lagos is the most accommodating of all states in the country and it has enjoyed the profile of being a commercial city right from time. Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of the country, West Africa and the first largest economy in Africa. We are celebrating this feat; it is like what California is to the United State of America. If Lagos was to be a country of its own, it would be one of the largest economies in the world. Lagos is important for us to celebrate because everything that our country ideally stands out to be is found in Lagos. it can be called a mini Nigeria.

    Can you shed light on the challenge of governing Lagos, this mini Nigeria?

    There are enormous challenges. they are not challenges that are undaunted, that will not allow you to achieve your purpose. When you have 26 or 27 states out of the 36 states that are struggling to pay salaries and those paying are finding it difficult to pay pension and the like, the effects will spread to those that are paying. Let’s say you have three, four or five that are consistent with payment, so that if, we are to calculate their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), it is not significant. The closest of the leading state is rated a quarter of Lagos IGR profile. That gives you an idea of the kind of pressure Lagos is facing, particularly in the last few years arising from fallout of state that are not well positioned to meet their obligations. In the last two years, the gravity of people moving into Lagos after 2014/2015 because of the electioneering has been quite huge. There is no other city in the world that has recorded volume of influx Lagos recorded within the time frame. That keeps a lot of pressure on roads and attending to security of the state. This therefore, means that, no matter how much Lagos State is generating, it really cannot be sufficient because of the people that need to be catered for in the state. But, Lagos has been lucky, lucky because in the last 15 to 20 years, it has been blessed with leaders that are upright, ingenious, committed and proactive. We had Alhaji Lateef Jankande, General Buba Marwa and, of course, the founding father of modern Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. And uptill now, Lagos is witnessing an unprecedented level of development. So, you can see a city state that is confronted with enormous challenges because it is about the only functional state, not only in Nigeria, but West Africa. And there are examples to back that assertion. Which other state or country do you see this level of development that you have seen in Lagos? You have seen the flyovers being constructed, investment going on, security provided, infrastructure and other projects well attended to.  You now have programmes, not only cosmetic beautification of the state, but the one that help to invest in permanent infrastructural projects; the ones make life better for the people. For instance, there is only one Emergency Hospital in the whole of Nigeria perhaps West Africa. It is located here in Lagos by the Toll Gate. I used the facility personally and can testify to its efficiency. A good percentage of people who use that hospital come from outside Lagos. These are people from Oyo, Ogun states and some people come from the northern states, the West African coastal states like Cotonou, Accra and Mali. If an accident occurs outside Lagos, the victims sometimes demand that they be taken to Emergency Hospital in Lagos. So, what do you do in the circumstance? It is either you encourage other states to have the type of hospital in their own states or create addition ones in different parts of Lagos. There is a dilemma to the success of Lagos, the more successful Lagos it has been, the more problematic it has become for Lagos. That is to the extent that people cannot fold their hands or hang their jaws hoping that things will be better in their states. Even those who are interceding on their behalf like the pastors or Imams that things will get better have been moving to Lagos because this is where the opportunities are.

     As we conduct this mid-term assessment of the administration, what is the assurance that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will be able to sustain the tempo of what he is doing?

    He was not elected to serve for two years; his mandate is for four years. Therefore, if what you are seeing in the last two years has been spectacular, it means that you are only seeing a glass house being built. You will have to wait for the end of the four years to put him in better perspective. We are happy the things we were trying to do at the beginning, which were not quite clear to lot of people in the last five months, are now clear. People are now realising what government plans to do. They now realise he is not a man that comes to wear another person’s shoe. This is the shoe maker himself, who decides the size of his own shoe. If you have seen the level of progress in the last two years, he is duty bound to maintain it. His campaign promise was to adhere to the concept of continuity. However, he added the continuity slogan, which is continuity with a difference. Therefore, he is mandated to work for the people till 2019. But, what is on ground will not terminate in any case then because of the developmental programme that is handed over by his predecessor which is the Lagos Developmental Plan, 2020 – 2025. This is anchored on the economic development, environmental sustainability, security etc. What we have done is to actualise what was handed over, which is based on a tripod of security, job opportunities and wealth creation and infrastructural development. Everything that has been seeing done by Akinwunmi Ambode and he is still doing will be based on that tripod. And in creating the job opportunities, that is why we have that N25 billion Employment Trust Fund. You cannot have a megacity like Lagos and you think the major thing you do is to secure their lives for one or two years. Only a few days ago, Lagos State compensated police officers who died in active service. Their families were given N10 million each and the one that was wounded got N5 million. It means that people are not just going into protecting the lives of others with their own being secured. Plans have been made to take care of their families and their legacies, if anything happens to them. We have also made provision for security gadgets that will add to the security of the state. The city is moving from a megacity to smart city. Lagos does not want to be a megacity, but a smart city because our contemporaries are thriving on the concept of smart city. Therefore, what makes it a smart city? Smart city cannot have just one seaport state; therefore we are working on the Badagry seaport that will create thousands of jobs and other projects befitting of a smart city. You can’t just live from hand to mouth here; we are creating one of the most important cities in the world, which will be like Dubai. We are saying that the city will be given security and development will be driven by technology. We are working on about 13,000 Close Circuit Cameras that will help in the security of the state. This means that Lagos will welcome everybody, but will demand that we live and work by the rules. We are in a marathon to win and the first leg of the marathon is a four year term. However, the seed that would have been sowed will not terminate in four years.

    When will the second phase of the rural road construction commence?

    It will commence this year. Again, that will take us back to why Lagos State is celebrating 50 years. There is no individual or state in Nigeria or Africa that celebrates its 50 years as Lagos State has devoted it’s time to mark the golden jubilee year. Maybe, something that will be close is Singapore. We have had wonderful times celebrating Lagos at 50. The last few weeks commencing from April to mark the celebration has been the most reported and publicised event. So, by the end of this month, when we would have been done with Lagos at 50, precisely from June/July we would have kick started another round of constructing the 151 road that we promised for which more than 2000 indigenous and foreign contractors applied would have been announced action. In May 2015, we announced that we would do something nobody has ever done in Nigeria, that we would commence 114 roads across the LGA and LCDA that would be delivered, when we celebrate our first year. And toward last year, we said we will not just repeat what we had the previous year, we would add to it, in which case, it would have been two roads per LGA but we realised that there were road network that needed some connectivity to the main road. This mean every council will still get two roads done, but there are some of the LCDA and LGA that cannot terminate in their council, but have to link major roads in order for things to happen. So, instead of 114 we now have 151 because all the roads have already been marked. So, between September and December this year another windfall of infrastructural development would have happened including of course the Pen Cinema Flyover and others to be delivered next year.

    Is the fourth Mainland Bridge project still possible?

    Yes, it is possible. It is going to happen and before you see the coming of the fourth Mainland bridge, the engineering work would have been going on. That is the level we are.

    Has the Federal Government fulfill its obligations, in term of the federal roads?

    We have not calculated what the federal government owes in the last two years because that has not been our focus. But of course, up till 2015, Lagos State has always insisted that federal government is owes it about N56 billion. There have been discussions between the federal government and the state government. Nothing has been paid, but again that is not our focus. Our major request will be two folds; it is for the federal government to be reminded its responsibilities about Lagos State, particularly within the Apapa axis. And secondly, for the Federal Government be on the same page with Lagos State government for the fixing of its roads. The state is desirous to fix mainly the Airport road, the BRT corridors at Abule Egba and a few other ones. As you know this is a family affair, there are no issues that cannot be resolved and discussions are on-going. Even if it is the desire of the federal government to fix some of these things and because of their important to the Lagos State government and the desire of the state, we have the wherewithal to deliver, we feel that it is better for the federal government to release whatever it has budgeted to on the projects to the state. It would be better for the federal government to release to Lagos State out of the N51 billion that we have agreed that federal government is owes Lagos State. And if for instance, we get N2 billion out of the money, we would say okay we have receive N2 billion, not as a tax, but out of the N51 billion that we have agreed that the federal government owes us.

    Lagos generates N1 billion per day. how can the local government improve on its IGR?

    The vision for the local government in Lagos State as we have it is to put people who will deliver in charge. People we want at the council are those who have the same vision on how the third tier of government, an important component of the state, to deliver good governance to the people. With what we have on the ground, we believe they can deliver on that. This time around, that Lagos set the developmental agenda, it only better that we have people with the same vision. If this is done, it would reduce a lot of things, it would reduce the pressure on government and their communities.

    What is the position of Lagos in the Southwest regional integration; at a time it has a synergy with a northern state to produce LAKE rice?

    Lagos state is an integral and bona fide member of the Southwest. Lagos state is a unique state, which is very welcoming and can be described as a mini Nigeria. We are glad and that underscored that people of Lagos State are from the Southwest. We are glad that Lagos State has now been absorbed into the Odua group of investment business and its core businesses. It is a component of the Southwest and we can see how Lagos is playing important role in the meetings of the Southwest governors. Oyo and Ekiti a PDP states, have hosted that meetings. Ogun State was supposed to host the meeting but because of the unfortunate transition of Dipo Famakinwa of the DG of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) an integral part of Southwest. Lagos State has always played important role and it is well positioned to captain the ship not only of Nigeria because we are already providing import role in the Southwest.  And from what we are doing, all other regions will see Lagos State as a region that we need because of its location and because of the leadership position has provided.

     

    • To be continued

  • Union reinforces strategy to strengthen performance

    The National President, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Comrade S. A. Adelegan, has declared that the extraordinary National Governing Council (NGC) meeting in Bauchi was an opportunity to analyse its strengths, challenges and proffer solutions.

    Speaking at the opening of the meeting, he said the union would  evaluate the government activities at all levels as they affect the union’s  membership, work and the citizens.

    AUPCTRE Bauchi chapter Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Ibrahim, said the meeting was coming at a time workers were being faced with non-payment of their salaries.

    He noted that where the salaries were even paid, it did not satisfy half of the needs due to inflation.

    Governor Mohammed Abubakar promised to maintain a good relationship, saying that his administration had done much to sanitise the state’s civil service from its earlier state.

    He said he inherited a loaded civil service and a huge wage bill that could not be justified.

    “This necessitated us to set up various committees towards sanitising the system aimed at improving service delivery to the entire people of the state.

    “I am happy to say that the relationship between the government and the labour unions has been cordial since the inception of this administration. I assure you that we will maintain the cordial relationship so that we will continue to enjoy industrial harmony in the state,” he said.