It was time for stock-taking yesterday by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola. He also gave an insight into the focus of his administration, if elected for a second term.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Dr. Ade Dosunmu said the state would fare better if it is aligned with the ruling party at the federal level.

Fashola, who is the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate and Dosunmu spoke at a debate organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) ahead of April’s general elections. The debate took palace at the LCCI secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja.

Both candidates disagreed on approach to the development of the state, funding of development programmes and the tax system

Managing directors and chief executives of companies, investors as well as supporters of the two gladiators, turned out in large number to witness the session. Fashola was applauded for the way he enunciated his achievements and plans for the future.

Fashola spoke on his administration’s plans for infrastructure and utility; regulatory environment; business support and development and security. He said it would be difficult to engage the future without looking at the past.

　He listed his achievements in infrastructural renewal, health, education, environment and beautification, adding that this would not have been possible if the government　did not institute a viable means of generating revenue but depended on the N6 billion monthly allocation from the Federation Account.

Fashola noted that infrastructural development cannot be achieved without a viable tax system. He dismissed Dosunmu’s suggestion that his administration had engaged in multiple tax system.

"The issue of multiple taxes is being misunderstood. The local governments are democratically elected. They have the power to collect rates on advertisements and sanitation. They also have the constitutional powers to collect taxes. The truth is that the promise we made to you cannot be delivered without tax, we cannot run Lagos on the paltry N6billion we get from the Federation Account. It is not even enough to pay our staff for one month. The transformation you see in the state is because we have strengthened and restructured our policy on tax," the governor said.

Fashola said his administration had harmonised what is collectible by the local governments in the state as a measure to address the complaints of multiple taxes by the organised private sector.

Countering his opponent’s position that the Federal Government’s assistance is required to fast track development in the state, Fashola said:

"Lagos would rather take its destiny in its hands than wait for the PDP-led Federal Government which in the last twelve years failed to fix Apapa-Oshodi Express Road, Oworonsoki Express Road, Benin-Ore Express Road and Lagos-Benin Express Road."

The governor also gave his administration a pass mark on security, saying in the last three-and-a-half years, night life has been restored in Lagos. He said robbery, especially of banks, have been stamped out. He said more would be done to further enhance the confidence of business owners and investors in Lagos.

Fashola said the first intercity rail project would begin operation in the first quarter of next year, adding: "Our concessionaires have engaged 150 Nigerians to get the work done."

He said provision of water would be privatised, adding that by 2020 about 622 million gallons of water will be supplied in Lagos.

　Dosunmu said if elected, his government would be guided by the philosophy of accountability and concern for the social good. He said the state lacked the capacity to undertake certain developmental projects without the backing of the Federal Government.

　He disagreed with Fashola’s policy on tax saying that Lagosians are being made to pay more tax than they ought to. The PDP, if given the mandate, would restructure the policy and grant tax holidays to manufacturers and major industries.

He said a PDP government, if elected, would introduce a business-friendly tax regime that would not only retain existing businesses but attract new entrants.

Dosunmu criticised the Fashola government’s housing policy which he tagged　"commercial housing schemes". He said provision of housing and other infrastructural facilities should be the responsibility of government and must be offered with proper mortgage facility.　


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Thoughts?

Dosunmu's perspective is not unreasonable. Align with the FG, perhaps get more federal gov't spending and thus lower taxes within the state.

But Fashola seems to think Lagos should forge its own path.


Despite this disagreement, both I think want the best for Lagos State, not their own selfish interests.

I liked this picture from the article of them shaking hands afterwards:

[img]http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/thumbnail.php?file=Fashola_363614882.jpg&size=article_medium[/img]

Personally, I like both of them. I have followed this dosumu guy and he also has concrete plans for Lagos.
And yeah,  like the picture.
I actually think the country is at loss without these two guys ruling. Well, tribalism has blinded alot of people especially GEJ supporters. Anyway, the SW are going to be the only ones that would enjoy these two men while the rest of the country flock to the region (SW) out of desperation.
I can't wait till they make electricity a state affair, you would see the miracles that would be worked out the that region of the country. So mature, politically sensible and progressive.

There is no way am going to support a candidate of Bode George. Hearing this man talk you will think there is no hope for Nigeria. How can you said Lagos will only develop if it align with the Federal Government when there is no evidence that the alignment of OGUN, OYO, osun,Ekiti and Ondo state has brought any form of development nor an appreciable impact on the citizenry. He said Lagos is collecting 6 billion Naira every month and that the money is enough to run Lagos, then i knew this man has gotten nothing upstairs! He need to go and ask what the Budget of major towns with such a large Population as Lagos is in Africa not to even talk of The whole world, from cairo to tunis you will see budgets of tens of billions of dollars for states or towns not even half of Lagos state population. Its like this guy does not know the implications of a large population in a third world like Lagos, from infrastructural needs to education, security, poverty alleviation, maintenance of roads, construction of new ones and all other things equal that will translate to a lift in the standard of living of the People. Fashola carry on jare.