POTENTIALS IN THE LAGOS EMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND

Lateef Raji

It is now an open secret that things are no longer at ease with the Nigerian economy. Sharp decline in the global prices of crude oil, a major source of income for the country, has brought the nation’s economy almost down to its knees. Presently, oil price continued its abysmal somersault. As at the time of putting together this piece, Brent, the global oil marker, fell by more than $2, or 6 per cent, to $31.48 per barrel the lowest since in April 2004.
With the global price of oil now at all-time low, economic analysts are already speculating that, unless a miracle occurs, things might be tough for the nation in 2016. In the previous year, the Federal Government scaled down the benchmark for the 2015 budget from $78 to $73 per barrel (ironically, a barrel of oil in the international market presently oscillates from $37 to $30 per barrel). As a reflection of how bad the situation was in the previous year, the Federal Government had to bail out some states that could no longer meet up with their financial obligations to their workforce. Some Federal Government agencies equally did not fair any better in this respect.
Unfortunately, the private sector is also not totally immune from the gloomy economic reality in the country as it has impacted negatively on the value of the naira. With the diminishing fortune of the naira, local industries are facing serious challenges that could actually lead to downsizing of workers if the situation is not quickly redressed. Hence, from every perspective, these are, indeed, trying times for the country.
The way things stand; the unemployed in the country, especially the youth, might be in for a hard time. If the working class is not actually finding things easy with the present harsh economic reality in the country, without a doubt, the growing populace of the unemployed might just as well be on a journey to Siberia. Sadly, the unemployment situation has become worse with the low-productivity rate of the manufacturing sector. The power situation isn’t helping matter either. The inabilities of subsequent administrations to improve the nation’s power condition spells greater doom for the unemployed in the country as most manufacturing firms with the fair prospect of creating jobs are either relocating or folding up. Curiously, multinational firms, that hitherto held great job prospects for Nigerians, are equally not left out of this gloomy trend.
With the present scenario, our nation is certainly sitting on a keg of gun powder. With the rampaging and heartless Boko Haram sect destabilizing the economy of the North Eastern part of the country, and by inference depleting the already dwindling national economy by engaging the nation in a needless war, we cannot afford to be at peace with the current unemployment situation in our nation. The implication of having a large percentage of unemployed youth aimlessly lurking around is not, by any means, palatable. To make ends meet, a hungry and disenchanted jobless youth could easily be lured into embracing vicious anti-social options. And any nation that allows its youth to go astray has already mortgaged its future. As a nation, we cannot afford to toe such an ignoble path.

Any nation that denies its youth the necessary enabling environment to thrive does so at its own peril. Youths are the dynamo of every society. Their energies, inventions, character and orientation define the pace of development and security of a nation. Through the aggregate of their creative talents and labour power, a nation makes giant strides in economic development and socio-political attainments. In their dreams and hopes, a nation finds her motivation; on their energies, she builds her vitality and purpose. And because of their dreams and aspirations, the future of a nation is assured.

Without doubt, the youth represents the most vibrant and adventurous group in any society. In the words of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe: "If you want to know the future of any nation, take a look at what the youths are doing presently.” Usually, if the prevailing condition in a given society does not offer the youth the needed platform to channel their bursting energy into positive use, they readily embrace rebellious predisposition. It is a well-known fact that nature abhors a vacuum.
Therefore, if there is anything that government at all levels needs to focus primarily on now; it is youth empowerment through various job-creation platforms. It is, indeed, in this respect that the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode must be commended for coming up with a far reaching creative and institutionalized framework to address the pathetic and appalling unemployment situation in the state. Since his assumption of office, Ambode has so far taken several steady strides that clearly demonstrate his resolve to take Lagos to new heights. However, in fulfillment of his campaign promise, the most audacious and positive steps he has taken, thus far, was the recent institution of a N25bn Employment Trust Fund to address unemployment and promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development.
The beauty of it all is that the initiative is a carefully and carefully thought out project that will definitely outlive the Ambode administration. It is a huge gift to Lagos, in particular, and the entire nation as a whole. By providing a legal and institutional framework for the laudable initiative, Ambode has gone a step further ahead to secure a better and brighter future for our youths. When he eventually leaves office, what he is bequeathing to the coming generation would speak volumes for him in years to come as a visionary and passionate leader. One would also like to commend the leadership and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for the thorough and speedy work it did in making the Employment Trust Fund bill to see the light of the day.
One salient quality of a reliable leader is the ability to make promises and keep it. Thus far, Ambode has come out as one leader who loves to keep his words. The establishment of the Employment Trust Fund was in line with keeping faith with the promise he made to the people during the electioneering campaign. The Fund is to be reimbursed by the State government with an annual contribution of N6. 25billion. It is projected that the Fund would hit ambitious N25billion mark over a period of four years.
Already, a ten-man board comprising of seasoned professionals, under the leadership of former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, has been put in place to manage the Fund.
With this initiative, the Lagos State government has thrown a big challenge at the youths of this country and it is not exclusive to the unemployed. It is a salvo to fire their imaginations, direct their energies and discover talents. The state is all out to back the evolution of value-generating ideas that may as well be what Nigeria requires to get out of the threatening economic quagmire.

It is hoped that more of such forward-looking and resourceful initiatives would come up from the stable of the Lagos State Government. If our people are to be freed from the shackles of poverty and hopelessness, this is the path we must continue to tread. It is the only path to economic emancipation. It is, indeed, the right path to prosperity.

Lateef, a public affairs' commentator, writes from Ikeja.

WITH AMBODE, LAGOS IS IN GOOD HANDS.
Lateef Raji

In recent time there have been lots of hues and cries about the course Lagos is charting under the less than 6-month leadership of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode as the governor of the state. While some analysts and commentators have been quite understanding and considerate, some others have passed damning verdicts on the administration and even in the extreme, demand his resignation.
Indeed, many have gone short of arguing that the governor doesn’t possess what it requires to steer the ship of the Center of Excellence to meet the yearnings and expectations of the people.
Much of these criticisms have been premised on recent breaches in the security and traffic controls across in the State. It is alleged that Ambode’s decision to embrace civility by relaxing enforcement, and relying more on persuasion in traffic management was responsible for the new chaotic traffic condition in the State. Another thread that became noticeable in the whole of the anti Ambode tirade is to compare him with his predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN.
My evaluation of these scenarios is that most commentators have been rather harsh and unfair instead of sharing an understanding of the perception of the new Lagos helmsman on governance.
The fact that the former governor, Mr. Fashola, his predecessor, adopted stern postures and measures in his approach to governance does not mean that is what must obtain forever, and that subsequent administrations must toe the same path.
Fashola surely had his reasons for adopting stern measures as a shock therapy to stem the rate of recklessness and lawless in the public space.
Fine, his approach yielded impressive outcomes. However, tough measures are only used on the short term to drive a consciousness that would make the people embrace a culture of order and decency. It has to be phased out overtime.
Ambode for one made it clear from the outset that he was going to run an all-inclusive government that departs from his predecessor in terms of style. His idea of an all-inclusive government is one in which “no one or segment of the society, irrespective of colors, race, faith, status; ability or disability is left behind." His philosophy is that for democracy to truly remain the government of the people, by the people and for the people, the active involvement of the people in governance must always be constantly encouraged and, indeed, deliberately courted. This is because the citizens are the bedrock of democracy. This explains why Ambode has never derided himself of having the monopoly of knowledge with regards to finding the right solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the State.

Curiously, this development goes a long way to underscore the complexity of the human nature, and it simply explains what has always made the study of man and his society an interesting subject of study. It is the same people that accused BRF of running a dictatorial, aloof and elitist government that are seeking the head of his successor for transiting onto a more open and considerate mode of public engagement.
No two individuals are the same. Ambode is entitled to his own style of government. He should, therefore, not allow himself to be coerced by any person or group into replicating someone else’s style. The most important thing is to get the job done, and as the governor has demonstrated in a clear understanding, the pact he has with Lagosians who are always eager to appraise and appreciate good performance. He should be focused on the job and not allow himself to be distracted.
A fact he must hold sacrosanct is that human beings are always very difficult to satisfy. As benevolent as the Almighty God is, He still cannot please everyone. Therefore, Ambode should be focused on fulfilling his electoral promises to Lagosians. He should follow his convictions and be his own man. At the end of the day, the buck stops on his table. Governance is about continually devising and adopting strategies to advance the course of humanity and meet the challenges of a dynamic and constantly evolving society.
Ambode surely has all it takes to move Lagos to greater heights. I have no doubt in my mind that he does. His over 27 years experience in the Lagos State public service will definitely serve him in good stead with extra mileage to steer the ship of State to the right channel. Without any doubt, Ambode has had a vastly memorable career as a public sector accountant and administrator in Lagos State. He rose to become the Auditor General for Local Governments in the State, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Accountant General of Lagos State, a position he held until his voluntary resignation from the public service in 2012. In a competitive public service environment like ours, one does not accomplish such a feat by being a neophyte.
Perhaps, more importantly, Ambode was involved at, possibly, the two most critical periods in the history of the State within the current democratic dispensation. The first was the era of spiteful financial offensive on Lagos, and the other was the period of the dramatic fiscal reengineering that gave rise to the ambitious accomplishments being witnessed in Lagos today. Recent revelation by the governor that the State is now able to save 3 billion naira monthly expenditure, as a result of the various fiscal re-engineering measures, he has put in place in the past five months, is indicative of his vast experience as a financial expert.
Only last month, the governor flagged off the construction of 114 inner roads, two in each of 20 Local Government Areas and the 37 LCDA's made possible with the intervention of the state government in funding, implementation and supervision. Aside from the direct benefit of the critical link roads to the people, the project will go a long way to enhance local capacity, which translates into a more rapid development at the grassroots.

Now that he would have the privilege of working with a budget that fits into his own vision for Lagos by 2016, Lagosians would, no doubt, experience breathtaking infrastructure development. Just last week, the governor in an elaborate event, handed over three helicopters for crime and traffic surveillance, which would no doubt impact positively in the management of the two areas of concern. Already, he has professed ‘Operation Zero Tolerance for Pot Hole’, ‘Operation Light up Lagos’, construction of fly over and pedestrian bridges along selected roads in the state among others.
Eventually, those who are already crucifying Ambode based on early developments would be disappointed. His experience is almost similar to that of Asiwaju Tinubu. Upon return to civil rule in May 1999, the Tinubu administration was equally roundly criticized as being ‘slow’ in attending to critical issues in the State. The security situation in Lagos at that time was complicated by the nefarious activities of men of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC, armed robbers and contest of strength among the various transport unions. However, by the time the Tinubu administration left office in 2007, it has become a pathfinder in the evolution of contemporary Lagos. Agencies such as Lagos State Advertising Agency, LASAA, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, Lagbus Asset Management, LAGBUS, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Agency, LAMATA, Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, Office of Public Defender, among others, are some of the enduring legacies of the administration. It was the administration that began the systematic fixing of the state’s infrastructure. Roads were rehabilitated and expanded, drainages and carnal were cleared. Perhaps, more importantly, the Tinubu administration put the state on the trail of economic independence as it shoved up the monthly revenue base of the state from a meager N600 million to over N10 billion.

In the same vein, the Ambode administration is fine tuning new plans to birth a new Lagos. As the governor embarks on the huge task of consolidating on the gains of his predecessors in Lagos, my advice is for him to chew deeply the words of a celebrated American author and writer, Patricia Lynn Reilly: “Hold on to your vision: don't let others preach it out of you." God bless Lagos State. God bless Nigeria.

Raji, a public affair's commentator, lives in Lagos.

OMISORE: MISCHIEF AS A WAY OF LIFE.

Lateef Raji

In the politics of the 4th Republic, especially in the South West geo political zone, some characters have eminently distinguished themselves as politicians who should not to be taken seriously. They don’t represent anything that is believable. They are agents of retrogression who stand for nothing and as such are ready to go for anything. Their sole aim in politics, and in any endeavor, for that matter, is to promote parochial, and self-seeking interests. Though, their names might ring a bell, it is often for the wrong reason.
Senator Iyiola Omisore, a serial gubernatorial election contender in Osun State, belongs to this class of personalities. One of the glorious eras in the history of Osun State was between 1999 and 2003 when Chief Bisi Akande was at the helms of affairs at the State of Omoluabi. Till date, Chief Akande ran one of the most prudent and transparent governments in the 4th Republic. It was his administration that constructed the present Osun State Government Secretariat, a project it embarked upon through stringent financial engineering. Unfortunately for Chief Akande, his albatross was in the choice of his deputy governor.
Unknowingly to Chief Akande, while he was busy cutting cost of governance and blocking loopholes to wastage of government resources in order to enable his government to improve infrastructure in the State, his deputy, Iyiola Omisore, was not on the same page with him. His purpose in government ran at a cross-purpose with that of his principal, and like it is often the case, Omisore rebelled against Chief Akande. Thus, began a calculated campaign of defamation against Chief Akande with Omisore as the Chief hatchet man. Like they say, the rest of Omisore’s dastardly acts during that period are now history.
However, in the ensuing political row between Omisore and Chief Akande, the late Chief Bola Ige, who was then the leader of the Alliance for Democracy in Osun State, and a revered political figure in the country, was ridiculed by Omisore. The height of it was when one of Omisore’s thugs humiliated Chief Ige right at the palace of the Ooni of Ife by removing his cap. One thing led to the other and Chief Ige was eventually brutally assassinated by unknown gunmen at his home in Ibadan. Naturally, Omisore became one of the chief suspects for Ige’s death. He was arrested and detained for some time. However, like most assassination cases in the country, nothing has come out of police investigation into Chief Ige’s death. Hopefully, the Chief Ige’s murder case file would be reopened so that people like Omisore would soon have their hands full.
Ever since, Omisore tried in vain to govern Osun State. The last attempt being the decisive electoral humiliation he suffered in the hands of the incumbent Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Not satisfied with his apparent rejection by the Osun electorates at the polls, Omisore took his case to the election tribunal where he was further humiliated for the lack of merit in his case. Insisting that he must ‘reclaim his (phony) stolen mandate’, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court were his next ports of call. But, again he lost barefacedly on these platforms. Since his electoral and legal losses, Omisore had been relatively quiet on the political scene. Who wouldn’t, given the enormity of the loss he suffered? His whereabouts suddenly became a subject of intense controversy as some claimed that he had relocated to neighboring Ghana.
But like a bolt from the blue, Omisore suddenly found his voice once again. And he is not just talking; he is actually singing like a Red-eyed Vireo bird which sings more than 20,000 songs a day. One particular subject that Omisore has suddenly found fascinating to sing about, in recent times, is the current workers' salary imbroglio in the State. In his characteristic ‘talk is cheap’ fashion, Omisore claimed that Osun State Governent under Aregbesola has borrowed more than N480 billion since he assumed office in 2010. According to him, the loan burden and the alleged continuous wasteful spending by the governor are some of the reasons the administration has been unable to pay workers for the past five months. He equally claimed that the governor also wasted the State’s resources on political campaigns during the last governorship poll and the just-concluded general election without minding the consequences of his actions. Though, Omisore did not state what the governor’s security vote is, he, nevertheless, advised him to reduce his security votes as well as spending at the Government House while also advising him to stop giving Osun money to his Lagos visitors.
Like the dubious politician who loves to play to the gallery, it is not surprising that Omisore is attempting to bounce to relevance on the wing of the current Osun workers' salary issue. And, it tastes sour. No responsible person would cash-in on the misfortune of a group of people to score cheap political points.
In the past four years, when the Aregbesola administration was transforming the face of the State through several capital and human capital development projects, Omisore’s voice was never heard. What is, perhaps, quite absurd is his penchant for rumor mongering and peddling of falsehood. Where on earth did he get the N480 billion debt profile figure he mischievously branded from when the total debt profile is not up to N70 billion? What exactly does he want to achieve by trying to hang Aregbesola based on the workers’ salary imbroglio when it is a common knowledge that about 24other States in the country are facing similar problem? Like the mischief maker that he is, Omisore did not tell his audience which of the People Democratic Party, PDP, governed States has not borrowed to execute capital projects.
The fact of the matter is that Osun State, just like many others in the country, is currently facing economic challenges whose nature transcends local rationalization. Prior to the dawn of this present national economic predicament, the State has faithfully discharged its responsibilities to its workers. For a period of not less than 30 months, there was no record of rancorous moment with its workers. Indeed, the State, despite its lean purse, is one of the few states in the country that paid its workforce a 13th-month salary every December.
Things actually become complicated when dwindling national revenue began to affect monthly allocations to States. For instance, in February 2013, Osun State got a total sum of N5 billion as allocation from the federal government. But, by April 2015, the State’s monthly allocation sharply dropped to a mere N466 million. This is a verifiable fact that is in public domain. Between November 2010 and December 2014, Osun State got a total statutory allocation of N108.3 billion with a wage bill of N120.4 billion and a total deficit of N12 billion. This, to any rational mind, aptly captures the dire financial strait of the State and, indeed, the country as a whole. If Omisore were to be a man of honor, he would have apologized for his reckless vituperations when the Central Bank Governor publicly gave reasons why states of the federation could not pay salaries citing the same reasons Aregbesola offered to the workers and people of Osun.
What Osun State needs at the moment is not the idle meddlesome of crass opportunists like Omisore. The State can actually do without Omisore’s opportunistic rabble rousing for it leads to nowhere and adds no value. No matter, how far lies travel, truth would definitely catch up with it somehow, some day. Osun workers are not in the dark concerning the financial position of the State. Very soon, they will smile again. And very soon, Omisore and his ilk would not be able to find their voice again. Like before, there would be nothing for them to howler about.
Raji is former Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Lagos State.

Aregbesola has a sound dream of making Osun self-reliant- Bureau

*Says state ’ll return to her golden era

The Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the state of Osun on Sunday said Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s determination to wean Osun from the culture of dependence on Federal Allocation was behind the haste with which his administration embarked on key programmes which have been lauded in and outside Nigeria.

The Bureau, through a statement by the Director, Semiu Okanlawon, said the government’s approach to agriculture, industrialisation and tourism and massive infrastructure provision were driven by the clear possibility that the sole reliance on the Federal Government for states’ survival would one day throw the country into an economic quagmire of immense proportion.

Assuring that before the end of June, workers would be paid their salaries, the statement said from the onset, the Aregbesola administration had set out to ensure that it energise the economy in such a way that proceeds from the economic activities and taxes from thriving companies in Osun would drive the economy and not the reliance on allocations from Abuja.

Okanlawon statement explained, “The dream has not gone awry and it is a clear vision that Osun must be on its feet, self-reliant and be a reference point in Nigeria. The race to ensure development within the first term of Aregbesola was informed by the fear of what is happening now.

“Aregbesola wanted an Osun that is self-reliant. That Osun, almost two decades after its creation, could not boast of tax-paying companies speak volume about the magnitude of the works that awaited the Aregbesola administration.

“But he did not shy away from this task of industrialisation. Within his first term, his government had caused investors to bring up companies such as the Omoluabi Garment Factory, Osogbo, Adulawo/RLG Technology company in Ilesa.

“Just last month, a leading telephone line company, Airtel, came to establish partnership with the Adulawo/RLG company. These are aside the various agro-allied companies which have benefited from the growth schemes of the Aregbesola administration throughout the state.

“The government has also commenced aggressive drive for the development of the solid mineral sector with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with an Australian mining firm, Andalusian Mining Industry.

“It was in the same vein that the idea of an airport for aircraft maintenance was conceived.”

The statement reminded all that Aregbesola had said repeatedly that only a lazy administration would accept the tag of Osun as a “civil servant” state as excuse for not developing initiatives for industrialisation.

“To accept that our state must continue to survive on the meagre inflow through what goes to the civil servants alone is to accept that we would continue to depend on external forces for our survival.

“We must work hard to give our people many choices. If you want to work in the civil service, it must be the choice that our people make on their own volition and not that there are no other choices regardless of their education, qualifications and expertise.”

The statement cited the instance of Lagos which today can pay its workers timely and still continue its development works.

“People must not forget that Lagos, in 1999 when former Governor Bola Tinubu took over, was generating a paltry sum. It was the ingenious interventions and immediate provisions of infrastructure that lured investors in to create various opportunities for the people and made tax administration much easier for what is now today’s Lagos. This feat can be repeated in Osun and other parts of Nigeria.”

The statement added that those making gains out of the criticism of Aregbesola fail to ponder over these facts adding that in spite of the lingering crisis, the administration will not loose focus.

The statement added the governor has come clean on the state of the finances of the state to ensure that nothing is hidden and to assure the people that despite the precarious situation, he is determined to restore the state to the era where his government paid salaries on the 25th of every month.

No son of Aregbesola was arrested for money laundering

It has become pertinent to inform Nigerians and others generally that there is no iota of truth in the story being peddled around by some misguided elements claiming that a son of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Kabir Aregbesola was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos today Tuesday May 12, 2015 with a huge sum of money in foreign currencies.

We have discovered the the authors of the wicked  and malicious lie are doggedly pursuing their agenda by engaging in an aggressive push for the falsehood to reach a larger population especially using the social media.

The younger Aregbesola neither traveled anywhere nor had any encounter with any security personnel today. It is obvious the evil minds at work are out to drag an innocent young man’s name into this dirt in order to get at his father.

Aregbesola has maintained a life of a moderate family man with a set of highly disciplined children who cannot be found wanting on issues of morals and societal values

Members of the public are therefore urged to dismiss the falsehood because it is just another handiwork of mischievous minds.

Semiu Okanlawon

Director,

Bureau of Communication & Strategy,

Office of the Governor, 
Osogbo, Osun

Unpaid salaries: A major challenge for Buhari.

Lateef Raji



Nigeria’s President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, no doubt, has a huge burden upon his shoulder.

Nearly every sector throughout the country isthreatened and in predicament. The sixteen years’ reign of the People Democratic Party, PDP, has been a matter of one step forward two steps backwards. In particular, the six-year period in office of President Goodluck Jonathan has been a huge disaster. It is obvious, from all indications, that President Jonathan ran a truly clueless and visionless government. The economy is currently in a comatose. The nation’s foreign reserve has been recklessly depleted by the spendthrift Jonathan administration. To worsen things, inflation and unemployment is at an all-time high while, like never before; corruption has become the order of the day in the corridor of power. When the President of a country affirms on national television that ‘stealing is not corruption’, you don’t need to be a prophet to know that such a country is in trouble. The truth, however, is that Nigeria is actually in trouble.



This, of course, is why I don’t envy General Buhari. The Nigeria that President Jonathan is leaving behind for Buhari is one that is in a complete mess, and we should make no mistake about it. One of the very daunting tasks that GeneralBuhari and his team would have to tackle, in earnest, is that of unpaid salaries raging across the country as this could become a clog in the wheel of democracy in the country. In the last sixteen years, the norm in budgetary planning,formulation and execution has been for recurrent expenditure to be excessively higher than capital outlay. This is not, in any way, peculiar to the Federal Government (FG) alone as nearly all the State Governments in the country operate a similar unproductive budgetary planning.



The consequence of this is the poor state of social and physical infrastructure across the country. Almost all federal roads are in terrible conditions. The inept PDP led government, after sixteen years in power, could not fix the nation’s refineries as we shamelessly continue to import refined petroleum products from neighboring countries. This is what happens when a nation fails to prioritize its developmental needs. No nation in the world, not even thealmighty United States of America, touted as the number-one economy could develop via the kind of budgetary system we have been operating in the past sixteen years.



High wage bills, as well as escalating cost of governance, remains a major threat to the survival of democracy in the country. Presently, aside the variousFederal Government agencies and parastatals that are being owed various degrees of salaries and emoluments, about twenty six (26) State Governments in the country are owing workers salaries in arrears of months. The State of Osun readily comes to mind here as the state has been singled out for target of media attack on this issue. I am piqued about this though since the state is not the only one in this dire financial strait. The Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was, infact, the first person to call national attention to this financial disaster in 2013, when he alleged that the FG had declared war on the state as allocation dropped to 40%.



It will be difficult to query his record as a worker-friendly administrator. In some states, in order to ensure workers go home with something; salaries are paid in bits, and my lawyer friend told me this was a breach of contract. Expectedly, in most of the States, workers are threatening to go on strike in a bid to press home their demands for prompt payment of their wages. Things are not looking up at all. At the time of writing this, the April allocation has not been disbursed.



With the decline in revenue accruing to the Federation Account through the sale of crude oil, some of the states might not be able to pay workers salaries, not to talk of paying arrears of pension and gratuity being owed pensioners. As things stand, the amount that stands to the credit of each of the states monthly is not enough to pay workers’ wages, and this means all other similar recurring expenditures would suffer. A few of them that try to embark on capital spendingdo so through loans from banks and bonds earlier negotiated, which must be serviced regularly at huge cost.



With this stark reality, it has therefore, become highly imperative for the incoming Buhari administration to take a holistic view of the whole issue with a view to saving our fledgling democracy from an imminent collapse. Bureaucracy is meant to help drive the pace of development in a democracy. In any nation where bureaucracy has become the problem rather than the solution,democracy would certainly become endangered. This is where General Buhari,and his team need to take decisive steps to save the country from what has become a chronic and nagging problem. As a stop-gap measure, one is actually canvassing that the incoming Buhari administration bails out the states that are owing excessive workers’ wages by offsetting such, and give them enough to pay pensions and gratuity. We have done it before.



Unpaid salaries have always plagued civil administration in Nigeria. Militarytakeover, had always been the quick fix, but with its recurring nature, it'sobvious we have not found the solution. Yes, government is always the biggest employer of labour; we cannot continue to bring idle hands into governments without a commensurate analysis of what is actually needed. This is to avert undue labour disputes that could cause needless troubles in the land. A sound employment policy would still address the problem of unemployment.



Equally, the idea of the Federal Government entering into wage negotiations on behalf of the State Governments should be discarded. Since the revenue base ofeach state differs, it would be inappropriate for both the Federal Government and the Labour Unions, to force State Governments to pay their worker's wages being paid by the Federal Government. Each State Government ought to employ and pay according to its capacity. Equally important is that labour unions must desist from the incessant act of demanding for an arbitrary wage increase. While the work force deserves better pay packages, government has responsibilities to the larger society through the provision of social amenities and infrastructures.



In the same vein, governments across the land need to cut all avenues that open the door for wastes in governance. We have taken the issue of taxation too lightly in this country. No nation attains greatness without the adequate contributions of the citizens in the forms of taxes. We must start emphasizing our tax systems to make governments and citizens more fiscally responsible.Democracy is about bringing development to a greater number of the people. It is about human and capital development. It ceases to be democracy when just a few individuals or groups corner the commonwealth while the rest of the society languishes in abject poverty. Now that change has come is, indeed, the righttime to get things done in the right way in order to get the right result. God bless Nigeria.



Raji is Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Lagos State.

PRESS RELEASE

YORUBA INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE TRAMPLED UPON.

The attention of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has been drawn to some unruly and unbecoming comments purportedly in reaction to alleged comments by the paramount ruler of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and warn all those involved to desist from such unbecoming acts forthwith.

The institution of the oba is one the Yoruba race hold in high esteem, and the OPC as irredentist defenders of Yoruba culture and heritage would therefore not tolerate anybody -irrespective of their places of birth of conviction- to denigrate what their hosts (Yorubas) hold sacred.

While we accept that that institution should remain non-partisan, it must also be acknowledged that the Palace of the Oba of Lagos has already claimed that the royal father was misrepresented in the press and pleaded for understanding.

Be that as it may, the Yoruba’s accommodating and loving nature should not be misconstrued as timidity. As hosts, we have given all our visitors enough space and opportunity to bloom and flourish without molestations, and of all the tribes and visitors in Lagos, none has enjoyed the benevolence of Lagos and indeed all of Yorubaland as much as the Igboman and nation.

The evidence of the claim above can be found in the fact that Yorubaland as a whole is the most cosmopolitan area in Nigeria. We Yoruba have allowed other tribes to own businesses, properties and even contest and hold political positions on Yoruba soil in a manner unreciprocated anywhere else in Nigeria.

Using the same Lagos as an example, the fact that the likes of Pastor Ben. Akabueze and Joe Igbokwe have become an integral part of the political frame work of Lagos State for years now is proof enough that Lagos and indeed the Yoruba are excellent hosts. Akabueze has for the last ten years been directing and coordinating the economic direction of the state from his enviable position as the honorable commissioner for budget and planning while Igbokwe has held sways general manager at LASIMRA and head, UFRU.

Others such as Ngozi Nwosu the popular actress from Imo State who got N6million for overseas surgery, the late comrade Chima Ubani whose family got cash and a gift of 3bedroom accommodation at Marwa Gardens as well as First Consultant Hospital that got N50 million as compensation for involvement in the Ebola case are evidence that the Igbos are not despised in Lagos.

Nowhere in Nigeria -east of the Niger- is the Yoruba or any other tribe accorded the kind of gesture the Igbos have been enjoying in Lagos in the last 12 or so years since these bonafide Igbo men entered into the Lagos political scene.

As for the likes of Bode George, Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and their party the PDP, their outcry is the reaction of a person or group without shame and critical thinking (arojinle). Is it that they have a case of memory dysfunction or are they just plain mischievous. Have they so quickly forgotten that it is their party that started the politicization of the institution and monarchy with the president’s visit to the same Oba of Lagos earlier this January as the forerunner to visits to many other obas in Yorubaland. None of the PDP members complaining now saw any thing wrong with the attempts to involve our obas in partisan politics until it backfired against them and their party.

This brings us to the warning we issued earlier, when Gani Adams in his treacherous, sycophantic and reactionary move turned on the good people of Lagos unleashing violence and threat of violence against the perceived enemies of his paymasters.

If Adams had not behaved like an omo ojuorolari, he should by now be defending the sacredness of the stool of the Oba of Lagos or any other one in Yorubaland for that matter.

If Adams had not collected the billions he did, along with MASSOB and other ethnic groups, his co-travellers would now be degenerating and abusing our hospitality the way no one can replicate in their homelands.

In closing, we enjoin all members of the OPC and indeed the Yoruba nation to beware of the enemies within like Gani Adams and with one voice condemn all fifth columnist within our fold. And with the foregoing it is abundantly clear that Gani Adams who brought this odium upon us must quit the OPC.



For: National Coordinating Council
Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC)
Com. Monsuru AKANDE

"This is Nigeria's Finest Moment"-Tinubu

National leader, All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the victory of the Presidential candidate of the APC, General Buhari as Nigeria's finest moment in its political history.

"It is a moment when hope is re-born, faith is rekindled and a fresh fire of patriotism is released for the task ahead. I congratulate General Buhari, Nigeria's President elect on his hard won victory. I salute our galant party leaders and members for running the long distance to victory. To millions of Nigerians I say this- the APC seeks not power for its sake, but for the purpose of bringing a better life to our people and re-building our country".

This is also democracy' s finest moment. Nigerians alive today have witnessed the beginning of an era of change . They made this happen and they are the true celebrants and they are deserving. Together we share this victory. Side by side we would work together to bring our country back.





Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

The people are the real winners - Muhammadu Buhari

BRIEF PRESS STATEMENT BY GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR,

PRESIDENT ELECT ON THE PLATFORM OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, APC.

MARCH 31ST, 2015

At exactly 5:15pm this evening President Jonathan called to congratulate me on my victory. For this I want all Nigerians to join me in congratulating and appreciating Mr President for his statesmanship.

President Jonathan engaged in a spirited campaign and was a worthy opponent. I extend my hand of fellowship to him. I look forward to meeting him soon as we plan the transition from one administration to another. He will receive nothing but understanding, cooperation and respect from me and my team.

The good people of Nigeria, answered the call of history. When the account of this fine moment is written, it will be said that it was the people themselves who led this nation to democracy. You stood in line patiently for hours in the sun, rain and then in the dark to cast your ballots. Even when the vote was extended to Sunday in some places, you still performed your civic duty. You did so peacefully. You voted with your heart. Your vote affirms that you believe Nigeria’s future can be better than what it is today. You voted for change and now change has come.

INEC has released the official results of the Presidential election. INEC has declared that I gained the most votes with the required spread and thus won this election. In a more profound way, it is you, Nigerians that have won. The people have shown their love for our nation and their belief in democracy.

The declaration of INEC accurately reflects the will of the people. While there might have been some logistical obstacles and irregularities associated with the exercise, the result shall stand as what the people want. I thank all Nigerians who have made this day possible. Our country has now joined the community of nations that have used the ballot box to peacefully change an incumbent President in a free and fair election. To me this is indeed historic. Most people will welcome the result because it is the one they voted for. Others will naturally be disappointed. I ask that we all be circumspect, respectful and peaceful in these times. This was a hard- fought contest.

Emotions are high. We must not allow them to get the better of us. This is not the time for confrontation. This is a moment that we must begin to heal the wounds and work toward a better future. We do this first by extending a hand of friendship and conciliation across the political divide. We hope and pray our friends in other parties reciprocate.

I thank all the members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for their commitment and their hard work through the formation of the party, the campaigns and the Presidential elections. Let me equally extend my appreciation to the MEDIA, Civil Society and the Security agencies for their selfless service. The International press and our friends abroad deserve special commendation for their support throughout the process. We promise a robust and dynamic engagement with your countries in matters of mutual interest to nations.

In the interim, I call on all Nigerians to be law abiding and peaceful. The eyes of the world were focused on us to see if we could vote in a peaceful way and carry out a representative election in an orderly manner. You have proven to the world that we are a people who have embraced democracy and a people who seek a government by, for and of the people. We have put one party state behind us. You have voted for a party and president that will serve and govern but never rule over you.

Change has come. A new day and a new Nigeria are upon us. The victory is yours and the glory is that of our nation - Nigeria I will make a more formal address to the nation tomorrow after receiving the certificate of return from INEC. May God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,

President Elect,

Federal Republic of Nigeria

LEKKI TOLL: ENHANCING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CREATING JOBS.
LATEEF RAJI

The Lagos State Government is constrained to respond to an article titled,” Lekki Toll: Biggest Fraud Ever Conceived and Committed” published in The Herald of 13th February, 2015, and many other online platforms. This has become necessary in order to provide accurate information to the public at large about the Project, put the record straight and correct a lot of misinformation and misconception in the jaundiced report, and probably in the minds of unwary members of the public. This is important because the way the story was syndicated confirms that it was a hatchet job meant to settle a political score for cheap electoral gains. Despite the sheer volume of literature that is out there on the subject, the writer failed to do any rigorous research before going to town with mere tales that do not in any way advance the knowledge and understanding of the readers on the subject matter. It is obvious the writer is ignorant and short sighted, and deliberately shut his eyes to the opportunities that the road has attracted to that axis. The sponsors are desperate, and their legendary history of corruption and mismanagement of public resources is fast catching up with them, which is why they see others as corrupt even when they have no proof.

In addressing the issues raised in the aforementioned article, it will be necessary to give some historical background on the road project and what motivated the Lagos State Government to opt for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) as a financing option in the delivery of the project.
• The choice of consummating the project through PPP in the first instance was part of the Lagos State Government’s forward thinking strategy to provide off-budget funding to enable it to implement infrastructure projects such as the Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway in view of its limited resources and to ensure that other pressing projects are not delayed to the detriment of the citizens of the State. The need to carry out upgrade and expansion works on the road became critical in view of the significant population growth along the corridor as the fastest growing area in the country. It was glaringly obvious that the 4-lane carriage road could no longer support the needs of the community. Furthermore, the road had exceeded the technical design life span of 25 years, having been built in 1981 and significant failures along the road sections resulted in huge traffic congestion that became a hazard to the health and security of motorists.
• In response, the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure advertised the road locally and internationally over a period, commencing from 2002, inviting interested private sector players to partner with Government in developing various road infrastructures, including the Eti-Osa Lekki Epe Expressway. Different platforms such as national newspapers, international road shows, Public Service Journal (PSP Journal), as well as the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure website were utilized in creating public awareness of the project.
• At the time, five roads were presented for Private Sector Partnership within the State; however, response from investors was very sparse and uninspiring. Only a few companies comprising of a consortium led by Asset Resource Management Limited (ARM), a company known as Denoi Konstruct and Messrs Warner West Africa Ltd, indicated an interest in the Eti-Osa Lekki Epe Road project.
• It should also be noted that, PPP as a tool for infrastructure development was still evolving in the country at that time, and as such there was still much apprehension about its effectiveness and workability, especially in the midst of an uncertain and nascent political climate. The bomb blast of 2002 in Lagos also did not help matters, as it created an environment of insecurity that discouraged prospective investors.
• Consequently, the initial local and international interest shown in the project did not progress beyond the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding which did not result in any commitment. However, Messrs Asset and Resource Management Company Limited (ARM) unlike other bidders were resilient in their proposal and resolute in their negotiations with the State Government. This eventually led to the signing of a Concession Agreement with Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC), the Special-Purpose Vehicle established by ARM and a consortium of local and international investors, to execute the project.
• In compliance with the procurement process, the contract was consummated under the Lagos State Roads, Bridges, (PSP) Board Law of 2004. Consequently, the Notice of Intention to Award the Concession was issued in the Lagos State Government Official Gazette Extraordinary No. 15, Volume 39 of 28th April 2006. Furthermore, the Notice of Execution of the Concession Agreement was published in the Lagos State Government Official Gazette No. 16, Volume 39 of 2nd May 2008.
• The road works are in two phases of which phase 1 is the expansion and upgrade of 49. 36km of the Lekki Epe Expressway, while phase 2 is the construction of a 20 km Coastal Road, with an option to construct the Southern bypass. The protection of the coastal road shorelines by the State Government was, however, a precondition for the concessionaire to construct the coastal road, a venture which requires huge resources presently not within the reach of the Lagos State Government. Consequently, the 4th Mainland Bridge has never been part of the pact of the Lagos Infrastructure Project as erroneously stated in the report.
• The Lekki Concession Company (LCC) is the Special-Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established to execute the road project. This is typical in structured finance transactions, such as PPP, asset securitization or joint ventures, to isolate certain company assets or operations and ring-fence a project-financed transaction. Part of its benefits is that it enables large organizations to meet specific objectives and perform specific investment activities. It also helps in reducing “red tape” and offers legal protection to member companies of the SPV among other benefits. The members of the SPV (LCC) consist of both local and international reputable equity holders such as Asset & Resource Management Company Limited (ARM), The African Infrastructure Investment Fund (AIIF) (which consists of strategic investors such as Macquarie Group – Australia, Old Mutual – South Africa), Larue Projects Limited and Hitech Construction Company Limited. Similarly, top international technical advisers, consultants and contractors such as BKS and Aurecon (South Africa), Arup (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Compsis (Brazil), Toll Infrastructure Services (South Africa) and High-Point Rendel (UK) among others, were engaged to support and underpin key aspects of the project. Apart from the equity contribution, the majority of the funding for the project came from; The African Development Bank, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Standard Bank London and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. To impugn that there is an element of fraud in a project that involved the aforementioned investors is not only sickening but queries the competence and state of mind of the writer and the sponsors.
• Similarly, there is nothing that has to do with allocation of prime land to LCC as part of the equity for the partnership in the Concession Agreement, which is a transparent document and sets out all the project details very clearly. The contribution from the State Government to the project apart from providing the Right of Way, is the provision of a 20-years N5 billion (US$42m) mezzanine loan, with a 10 year moratorium to demonstrate Government’s commitment to the success of the project. This is consistent with global best practice in priority projects of this nature, and the concessionaire was to repay the loan on due date.
• The writer also stated that there was no basis for the 30-year Concession “for mere rehabilitation and expansion of an existing road, which government could afford on its own." It must, however, be noted that the concession period is determined based on empirical input elements of the construction, operating, financing and maintenance costs whilst providing reasonable returns to investors. Typically, toll road concessions around the world range from 25 years to as high as 50 years, where such projects involve a large amount of capital expenditure. It helps to lower cost of toll rates if the period over which the concessionaire is allowed to recoup its investment is spread out over a longer rather than a shorter concession period. Furthermore, it should be noted that within the 30-year concession period, Government would not have to be concerned with the operation and maintenance of the road because the toll provides a stable and timely source of road maintenance funds, which allows for prompt and adequate maintenance of roads and also frees up government resources for other socio-economically productive sectors such as Education and Health. In addition, at the end of the concession period, the road would be handed back to the State Government in a fully maintained condition.
• Furthermore, contrary to the writer's assertion of “mere rehabilitation and expansion of an existing road," additional value added to the road beyond rehabilitation, and expansion includes the provision of complementary facilities such as street lights, traffic lights, drainages, pedestrian bridges, road signs, fencing (for security and safety), construction of underground ducts for fibre-optic and other buried infrastructure. The novel 24/7 Incident Management Service comprising: Route Security Patrols, Breakdown/Vehicle Recovery Assistance, Toll Free Customer Helpline and Ambulance services on the road, is the first of its kind in Nigeria and West Africa. Since inception, over 15,700 road users in various levels of distress have benefited from the complementary incident management services. Independent surveys conducted by research outfits on the completed sections of the road, have described journey experience on the expressway as the best in terms of maintenance and safety in the country. Incidences of traffic congestion, travel time inconvenience, accident and armed robbery have been significantly reduced to the barest level in the completed sections.
• In addition, LCC innovativeness in eliminating traffic congestion at the intersection between Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue and Adeyemo Alakija Street, led to the provision of the new Falomo On-Ramp Bridge.
• On the allegation that landowners and prospective builders of homes are being charged heavily land use charges and personal income tax, and they now have to pay road tax (toll); it is pertinent to state that, while taxes are applied generally to all citizens irrespective of whether they use a service or not, toll is a form of tariff, and it is applicable to only people that use the particular service. It will therefore be absurd to argue that because someone pays income tax or land use charge; he/she is not supposed to pay water or electricity tariffs for specific services provided.
• Beyond this, members of the public are not compelled to pay the toll because they have a choice of using the Alternative Roads to bypass the toll plazas. The beauty of the road is that it is an open toll concept, whereby, motorists, which do not want to pay tolls can bypass the toll plaza and still get back on the road and use a significant part of the road free of charge. In addition to this, if they have any vehicle breakdown or other difficulties on the road, they would be assisted by LCC’s rescue team irrespective of the fact that they have not paid the toll.
• In addition, there is a special discount of up to the tune of 60% for commercial vehicles, which means that low-income earners can now get public transportation at a cheaper rate because apart from the 60% discount, commercial drivers can now make more trips because of reduced travel time and the cost of the discounted toll is going to be spread over a number of passengers, which would make the transport fare cheaper per person. Government has also provided high-capacity buses in the corridor to further enhance the accessibility of public transportation.
• In the area of stakeholder’s relations, the State Government has continued to engage and consult stakeholders in the community. There is indeed a standing committee which membership includes that of Eti-Osa Heritage Group, Oniru Chieftancy Family, Eti-Osa Leaders of Thought, Coalition of Oodua self-determination Group (COSEG) - representing Civil-Society organizations and chairmen of three local Governments Areas (Eti-Osa LGA, Eti-Osa East LCDA and Iru/V Island LCDA), among others. During some of the interactions with stakeholders, they were enlightened that the reason why the road was being fenced was to enhance the security and safety of inhabitants, so that people and animal do not stray on to the road and constitute a danger to themselves and motorists. In view of this, and in deference to community request, the initial brick design of the fence was changed to clear view fences. It is pertinent to state that beyond various town-hall meetings with members of the community, the State House of Assembly also held an open session before approving the contractual arrangements on the 21st of May 2007.
• As regards the progress of construction works on the road, works presently progressed beyond 20km in contrast to the 2km stated in the write up. While the project may not be perfect, the intention of Government on the project is to reduce traffic gridlock along the expressway, and this has been considerably achieved. Security and safety have also been enhanced on the road unlike what obtainable in the past.
• Beyond this, the road has provided a critical access to new developments in the area such as Lekki Free Zone, the future Lekki International Airport, Lekki Hydrocarbon Park, the $20billion Dangote Refinery & Petrochemical plant and Lekki Deep Water Seaport, all of which will become significant catalysts of economic development. The Lekki Free Zone alone which is now open for business with some manufacturing factories in operation, is forecasted to create over 15,000 direct jobs and has already attracted over USD$1 billion in offshore commitments for investment. While, the Eti-Osa Lekki Epe Road expansion project, on the other hand, has created over 2,000 direct and indirect employment since the financial closure of the project in 2008.
• Consequently, the road expansion project along with other rapidly developed infrastructure has enhanced the value of properties and turned the Lekki corridor into a choice residential area for the burgeoning middle class and investors' delight in terms of berthing their business locations.
• The project has won various international Awards, which includes the Award for Transport Deal of the Year in 2008 and IFC/Infrastructure Journal Top 40 Emerging-Market Award in 2013.

Thus, contrary to the writer’s warped impression that the project is anti-people, it has, on the contrary, enhanced the quality of the lives of the people through the aforementioned socio- economic benefits.

Raji is the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Information and Strategy.

Welcome home. The best politicians in Nigeria are the progressives. Nothing hood has ever come out of the PDP. Your rare touch can best be appreciated by people of like minds not those who have been dulled by politics.