Senators Move Towards Special Status For Lagos
Some members of the Nigerian senate have registered their support for a declaration of special status for Lagos State.
Senators, Sani Yerima (Zamfara), Sam Anyanwu (Imo), Binta Mary Garba (Adamawa), and Adeola Olamilekan (Lagos) declared this yesterday. They gave their support during a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday. This is part of a visit by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport to Lagos on oversight functions.
According to the four senators, any efforts at making Lagos a better place are aimed at the total wellness of Nigeria. They maintained that approving a special fund for Lagos was important because the state is a mini-Nigeria.
Lagos Is A Small Nigeria
Speaking on behalf of the Senators, Sani Yerima said Lagos is not just cosmopolitan; it is a small Nigeria. Every state and community in the country has representatives in it. He urged the governor to count on the Senate on anything that has to do with Lagos.
“Lagos is not only for Lagosians. It has been the nation’s capital city and up till this moment, you find people from all states of the federation earning a living here. So, anything we do for Lagos, we are not doing it for Lagos alone and I will call Lagos a mini Nigeria. By the grace of God, we are going to look at the bill again.”
Yerima said the committee is in Lagos to ensure agencies of government are doing their jobs. He also commended the governor for the good work he is doing in Lagos.
Governor Ambode Urges Revisiting Of Special Status Bill
Meanwhile, Governor Ambode has pleaded with the Senate to revisit the special status bill.
According to the governor, Lagos is thoroughly cosmopolitan, which means the well being of Lagos is the total well-being of Nigeria. He appealed to the senators to see the bill from a pan-Nigerian perspective rather than a Lagos thing. At the end it is for the good of Nigeria since the state is the commercial nerve centre of the country.
Ambode added that it would be partly fulfilling the gentleman understanding that Lagos will not be left behind when the capital was moved out.
The Senators also agreed with Ambode that the bill should be revisited.
The Senate had on October 5 voted against the bill. The bill seeks that 1% of federally generated revenue is paid as a special grant. This is in view of the former Nigerian capital’s socio-economic significance.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Remi Tinubu representing Lagos Central, was rejected after failing a voice vote called by Ike Ekweremadu.
