|
Lagos Guber: Fashola Tackles Dosunmu at Debate
By Gboyega Akinsanmi
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Adegboyega Dosunmu, Thursday engaged themselves in a debate over their respective agenda and programmes to transform Lagos to a desired mega city if given the chance to rule in the next election.
At a private sector interaction organised the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) at the LCCI Exhibition Hall in Lagos, both candidates openly disagreed on issues such as public utilities, infrastructural challenges, security apparatus, taxation and revenue generation .
In his presentation, Fashola assured the gathering of captains of industry of his administration's agenda to ensure continuity if given opportunity to serve again, citing various infrastructural projects which he said the administration was able to execute successfully in the last four years.
He cited a sharp reduction in violent crimes by about 80 percent, decline of murder by 85 percent, construction of bus rapid transit, regularisation of land title deeds and on-going development of Eko Atlantic City, on-going construction of Lekki-Epe Road, Lagos-Badagry Expressway and Light Blue Rail project, which he said, his administration had been able to achieve.
Fashola said the state government under him would concentrate on full implementation of the first intra-city rail in West Africa; provide potable water for Lagos residents; open Eastern and Western corridors to allow easy entrance and exit into the state; and develop the tourism potentials of the state.
On his part, Dosumu promised to grant tax holiday and concession to private businesses, citing a report of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that over 100 companies had relocated from the state as a result of what he described as crisis of multiple taxation.
Source: This Day, 18th February 2011.
Fashola Vows To Expose FG's Follies
GEORGE OKOJIE
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has vowed to continue to expose any act of folly by Federal Government.
He made this now at the weekend while commissioning some projects in Lekki- Ajah axis of the state. This was even as said that said it is high time Nigerians speak up raised their voices elected leaders on their toes.
Pointed out that the nations leaders was bereft of ideal on issues on national importance as well as developmental achievements in Nigeria, and counseled that "If they want to lead us they must show us what they can do. From now, I will engage them in debate minute after minute, hour after hour on the issues that matter to Nigerians.
"We have had enough of this 12 years of waste of PDP in power. We have demonstrated that in three years change is possible. Let them bring their results and meet us. Lagos is always in the forefront of implementing various national programmes like polio programme. Let them ask the common people on the street and give their own result of achievements " the governor siad and added "The party that has spent 12 years trying to provide electricity. We have provided three major electricity plants, the next major one would be finished in the next few weeks. Clearly, therefore, they are deficient in planning and in implementation".
Fashola who pointed that the Federal Government has over 7,500 abandoned project, in its kitty added the apex government has spent 10 years in building a 400metres Bridge in Ota only for its leaders to come and fight on the day of commissioning of a bridge without a good link road.
Fashola also laid the blame of terrorism , kidnapping increased rate of armed robbery and other social maladies that have bedeviled the country at the door steps of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) saying that their desperation for power with impunity introduced the vices to the country.
According to him," Before they assume officed, there was no bombing in Nigeria, and there was no kidnapping. They have made security and electricity worse in Nigeria. This is the time to kick out PDP at every level of government in the country I am leading that crusade, PDP has failed. PDP does not deserve to stay in government longer than one minute."
Source: Leadership, 13th February 2011.
PDP brought bombing, kidnapping to Nigeria- Fashola
By Olasunkanmi Akoni & MONSOR OLOWOOPEJO
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state yesterday blamed the PDP-led federal government for the poor state of the country's security and electricity, saying; "Before they assumed office in 1999, there was no bombing in Nigeria and there was no kidnapping."
The Governor also said the ongoing Egyptian crisis would be a window of economic opportunity for Nigeria if the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP- led Federal Government can implement the right policy and exhibit the right attitude towards it.
Governor Fashola made this known while commissioning series of projects embarked upon by the state government held at Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.
The projects commissioned include two blocks of 12 classrooms each for both junior and secondary schools in Gbara Grammar school. A block of 13 classrooms was also commissioned at Olomu community school. A mini-water works scheme was commissioned at Badore, Ajah .
Fashola said: "They have made security and electricity worse in Nigeria. This is the time to kick out PDP at every level of government in Nigeria."
According to him: "I am leading that crusade. PDP has failed. PDP does not deserve to stay in government longer than one minute."
The Governor said, "We are tired of living with a diet of broken promises. When there is crisis in your neighbourhood, who do you see? My phone number has remained in the public domain.
"Tell the other parties to stop remaining anonymous. Let them tell you how you can reach them."
On the Egyptian conflict Fashola said "The conflict in Egypt is causing that country at least one million tourist."
The governor added: "Riot, strikes and civil disturbance will only slow down the pace of development in any country."
He said "We must open our doors to embrace those tourists. When tourists come, there will be more money in circulation, new businesses will spring up and novel opportunity will surface.
"This is a golden opportunity for us because tourism is in this axis. Lagos is the centre for domestic solution for Nigeria's problem," Fashola added.
According to him "Lagos State government is ready and thinking ahead, because anywhere there is crisis, there is an opportunity. Lagos is the centre for domestic solution for Nigeria problem.
"The crisis in Egypt today is an economic opportunity for Nigeria. Let us do the right thing: right policy, attitude. Let us work together to make Nigeria and especially Lagos state great."
Source: Vanguard, 12th February 2011.
Lagos Doctors to Get New Pay this Month
BY CHUKWUMA MUANYA AND WOLE OYEBAD
WITH the approval of the 2011 budget, the Lagos State government is set to implement its pact with its doctors, who have resumed their industrial action over the new welfare package.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who yesterday described the doctors' strike as unnecessary, said the government did not renege on its agreement to implement the equivalent of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) packages, but had a delay from the House of Assembly on the passage of the budget.
Idris told journalists amidst pleas of stranded patients at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) that it was not the fault of the state government that the doctors were not paid the new salary at the end of last month.
He said: "What they are saying is that it took quite a while. Yes, but it is not the fault of the state government. You will recollect that the budget was only passed about two weeks ago and the governor immediately signed it into law.
"If the budget had been passed since January, this situation would not have been. But the House has its own process of debate on the budget and we don't have power over that.
"The budget was presented to the House by the governor in December 2010. And the House just approved it two weeks ago and it would not have anything to do with the Executive arm of government".
Idris added that the process of implementation would take a while. "One of the things that we planned at the meeting was that every group would be met to discuss with the Executive arm and that of the medical group was scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday.
"Now that we know what the House has approved, then we will set all the machinery in motion and we will start paying before the end of February".
Idris further explained that there has been an upward review of salaries and what was offered to the doctors was almost what they asked but with a few differences.
"Lagos has said that it is the package of Lagos State and it is going to be a continuous negotiation. We cannot get everything 100 per cent and the government's stand is that the remaining will be ironed out over a period of time.
"But you cannot say that unless everything is met, you will not work. Then, you are putting the lives of people in danger. Calling out a strike because of this, to me is totally unnecessary because at the end of the day, it is the people that will suffer and this is my appeal to them".
Lagos doctors, under the aegis of Medical Guild, on Saturday commenced an indefinite strike over the state government's non-implementation of CONMESS. The doctors said that the industrial action was in line with the National Medical Association (NMA's) directive that all states which do not implement the CONMESS by January ending should down tools.
The action has, however, paralysed medical services, except at the medical emergency section of LASUTH, bringing untold hardship on the people.
Among the crowd of patients that appealed for succour from Idris during his visit to LASUTH medical and surgical emergencies yesterday was the mother of Olujola Adebisi, a baby with hydrocephalic condition.
Adebisi said her baby was supposed to undergo the third operation since August, but it was not done due to four months doctors' strike in 2010.
Source: The Guardian, 8 February 2011.
Lagos Begins Replacement Of Stolen Manhole Covers
BY TUNDE ALAO
IN response to concerns expressed by Lagos residents on the dangers posed by opened manholes on several roads across the metropolis, the state government has undertaken enumeration of all affected roads with a decision to embark on replacement of the damaged and stolen covers.
So far, it has carried out replacement in some areas, which include eight points along Ikorodu Road, particularly at Jibowu area, 43 along Eko Bridge, and eight along Simpson Junction (Lagos Island).
Other major roads include Lagos Island Central Business District, Bourdillon/Alexander and Gerald Road, Ikoyi; Funsho Williams Avenue, and Eric Moore Road, Surulere; network of roads in Apapa Central Business District, and Murtala Muhammed Road, Yaba.
In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Hakeem Bello, said while the government is formulating devices and means to secure the covers and prevent further removal, the replacement of identified vandalised manholes have commenced.
According to Bello, the state government would not hesitate to treat culprits as economic saboteurs. He urged citizens to be on the lookout towards protecting public infrastructure by exposing the anti-social elements causing the damage to them, adding that the replacement of such covers in some major roads in the city would stop the loss of innocent lives and injuries as a result of accidents occasioned by the removal.
Bello said the essence of manhole is to facilitate an opening for clearing and evacuation of the covered drains. They are provided for cleaning and other routine maintenance, and its openings covered with cast iron and gratings, is to allow surface water access into the drains.
"It should be understood that public fund had to be invested to construct the manhole. But for any person or group to think that they can make money by vandalizing the material would not be allowed", Bello added.
He said that government has alerted all relevant law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the perpetrators of the unpatriotic act, warning that the full weight of the law would be brought on all those caught in the act.
Source: Leadership, 6th February 2011.
Top Lagos Previous News
|
