Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has said the agitation for a special economic status for Lagos State is not a selfish demand.
He said the need for this request has been well articulated and justified, stressing that it is in the interest of every Nigerian and Nigeria as a nation.
Sanwo-Olu stated this while declaring open the South-West zonal public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution taking place in Lagos for Lagos, Oyo and Ogun State.
According to him, the special status for Lagos must be of concern not only for the people of Lagos State but the entire people of Nigeria.
He said, “Equally fundamental particularly for us in Lagos is the issue of Special Economic Status for Lagos considering our state in the national economy and the special burden we bear by virtue of our large population and the very limited land that we have.
“I believe the need for this special status has been sufficiently articulated and justified. It suffices for me to restate that this request is by no means a selfish one but one that is actually in the interest of every Nigerian and Nigeria as a nation.
“The progress and prosperity of Nigeria is inextricably linked to the progress and prosperity of Lagos State. The special status for Lagos State therefore must be a concern not only for the people of Lagos State alone but for the entire Nigerian nation.”
Sanwo-Olu also said the issue of State Police and Fiscal Federalism is a priority for the state.
The Governor noted that while the present attempt to reviewing the constitution was not the first move, he expressed optimism that the outcome of the present exercise would be much better than previous exercises.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa represented by his Deputy, Hon. Wasiu Sani restated that the special status for Lagos is very important.
He said it is discriminatory for a section of the country to be receiving 13 percent derivation from the federation account while the state where the nation makes the largest chunk of the allocation gets nothing in return.
Obasa also called for the criminalization of interference in the affairs of the state legislature to prevent a situation where an overzealous Chief Executive would shut down the state assembly.
He also advocated for the liberalisation of the rail line to enable state participation in rail development.
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