The Association of Lagos Titled Chiefs has called on the Senate to revisit the demand for special status for Lagos State, which was the content of a bill sponsored by Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, who represents Lagos Central.
It would be recalled that the Senate voted against the bill through a voice vote called by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Reacting on the development, President of the Lagos Titled Chiefs, Mrs. Iyabo Foresythe, while commending the Senate for, at least listening to the bill, said the agitation for special status for Lagos became more forceful after the South West Zonal public hearing on proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
According to her, “It was the opinion of the people that Lagos be given a special status. As key stakeholders with varied interests in the cosmopolitan city of Lagos and the economic capital of Nigeria, we have continually stressed that the state remains the commercial and industrial capital of Nigeria with a contributions of about 60 per cent of the nation’s GDP.”
The association also said that the state remains the largest employer of Labour in the country “a situation which only a special status can sustain as we are convinced that the passage of the bill would translate to economic prosperity and wellbeing of Nigerians.”
The association therefore noted that it would be unfair to deny the state a special status as it hosts millions of Nigerians and continue to attract more every day, saying, “If Lagos was given a special status and more funds, the facilities that would be created would not be used by only Lagos indigenes or Yoruba indigenes but by all residents, irrespective of their ethnicity or nationality.”
It added that the argument even becomes very incumbent “following the recent passing of the North East Development Commission Bill, with the allocation of three percent Valued Added Tax (VAT) to the area. It is now obvious to us that equity and justice will always give rise to peace, stability and progress in any society, while injustice breed acrimony, instability and retrogression. We are indeed not happy that with the contribution of 68 percent of the VAT Income coming from Lagos, Lagos still does not deserve a special status to enhance economic development and fund the infrastructure deficit in the city-state.”
The association stated that the resultant huge urban population and pressure on Lagos continue to put enormous pressure on amenities and services and pose peculiar security challenges to it adding that its strategic importance to Nigeria cannot be over-emphasized.
“Lagos contributions in terms of GDP, political, social and economic development cannot be wished away. Indeed, we do not hesitate to call it a home for all Nigerians and it should be noted that those who have defined themselves in this country, can call Lagos their first or second home, as the city-state continue to play critical roles in the nation’s economic development.”
Source: Guardian
