Showing posts with label Babatunde Fashola. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Babatunde Fashola. Show all posts
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Lagos State, Gov. Raji Fashola and "work-chop-cracy"
As we know, a group of individuals known as the ‘Face of Lagos’ recently, through paid newspaper advertorial, accused Gov. Babatunde Fashola of financial recklessness and impropriety. Following these allegations, the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) in a swift response constituted a panel to investigate these allegations.
As I write, the motive of the investigation panel is still been queried by members of the public. Some have described it as the proverbial “hand of Esau and voice of Jacob”. Some consider the investigation as the first step in the plot to impeach the state governor. There are insinuations that the disagreement between the godson and godfather is because the former has not allowed the latter to have an unfettered access to the state vault. There have even been comments about why the LSHA has not probed the 8-year rule of the supposed godfather.
For me, I’m not interested in delving into the motive behind the panel investigation. As I’m not privy to the facts behind the disagreement of these individuals, I don’t think its right for me to add to the current speculations.
What I find baffling however, are the comments that Gov. Fashola should not be investigated because he is a “performing” governor (!). For such commentators, they would rather have the “Fashola type” alleged corruption, because he built new roads, implemented new public transport initiatives, cleared Oshodi and planted flowers.
The view of such people is that systemic looting of the state treasury can be justified, if the alleged culprit has performed beyond their expectations. Performance to them is a justification for treasury looting? Na Wah! You may want to ask, what their expectations are. Such individuals lack basic understanding of what is required of people they have elected into office. It’s like an employer who engaged a staff without a job description or key performance indicators. So it would be very easy for such an employee and his employer to develop a false sense of achievement. Anyway, that’s an aside issue.
Interestingly, it seems deepening rift between the Lagos State Governor Fashola and his estranged godfather Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has created a new type of governance model, which I will describe as “Work-chop-cracy”.
So what is “Work-chop-cracy”? This is a type of government that allows a leader, that is perceived to be performing well, to also engage in looting of the treasury – albeit at a lesser scale when compared to the “do nothing” leaders.
In the Work-chop-cratic government, the masses accept corruption as a way life. And as a friend noted recently, corruption in governance is regarded as second to the air we breathe under the model. The principle is, everyone elected into public office must “chop”, however the public officer must justify his chopping through “hard work and performance”. Hmmm….!
The acceptance of work-chop-cracy as a style of governance further highlights the delusion among the Nigeria masses. In the past, I’ve always been critical of the nation’s leadership and their role in encouraging corruption at levels of government. However, following some of the public comments on the alleged feud between Gov. Fashola and his predecessor, I’ve come to realise that we the masses are the biggest problem affecting Nigeria.
The question I asked the promoters of “work-chop-cracy” is, if the same allegations were raised against Gov. Alao-Akala or Gbenga Daniel, what would have been their response? Obviously, because these Governors have no track record of performance, they are always easy targets. We shout to high heavens when we hear of allegations of corruptions against those we consider as non-performing.
We are happy to see James Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion, Orji Kalu go to jail, but we are not interested in investigating allegations of corruption levelled against Fashola because we think he his performing. Such attitude smacks of hypocrisy.
If we decide not to take the allegations of corruption against Gov. Fashola seriously, what moral standing do we have to take the allegations against Gbenga Daniel seriously? Where is it written that an administrator can mismanage taxpayers’ money simply because he has implemented people-oriented projects? Is that what we define as dividends of democracy?
So what exactly is the big deal about investigating a sitting Governor? Is it not taxpayers’ money that he is been accused of misappropriating? Or may be I’m mistaking. Instead of whipping unnecessary sentiments, why not let’s focus our attention on the panel itself. Our energy should instead be directed towards urging the LSHA to conduct the investigation in a fair and transparent manner. And if they don’t, we can start making noises.
Probity, accountability and transparency are the key tenets of democratic governance. The taxpayer has the right to demand for information on how his taxes are been spent. No matter how good a governor performs, he still needs to be held accountable. After all, it’s not that he has invested his personal wealth in the development of the state.
And don’t get me wrong. I’ve not said that Gov. Fashola is guilty of the allegations. Until proven guilty, the Governor remains innocent. However, I do not support the argument that he should not be investigated because of his performance in office. Irrespective of the motive, I consider the allegations raised by the Face of Lagos group to be very serious, hence need for ‘thorough’ investigation. These allegations cannot just be swept under the carpet.
Eko o ni ba je o.......!
As I write, the motive of the investigation panel is still been queried by members of the public. Some have described it as the proverbial “hand of Esau and voice of Jacob”. Some consider the investigation as the first step in the plot to impeach the state governor. There are insinuations that the disagreement between the godson and godfather is because the former has not allowed the latter to have an unfettered access to the state vault. There have even been comments about why the LSHA has not probed the 8-year rule of the supposed godfather.
For me, I’m not interested in delving into the motive behind the panel investigation. As I’m not privy to the facts behind the disagreement of these individuals, I don’t think its right for me to add to the current speculations.
What I find baffling however, are the comments that Gov. Fashola should not be investigated because he is a “performing” governor (!). For such commentators, they would rather have the “Fashola type” alleged corruption, because he built new roads, implemented new public transport initiatives, cleared Oshodi and planted flowers.
The view of such people is that systemic looting of the state treasury can be justified, if the alleged culprit has performed beyond their expectations. Performance to them is a justification for treasury looting? Na Wah! You may want to ask, what their expectations are. Such individuals lack basic understanding of what is required of people they have elected into office. It’s like an employer who engaged a staff without a job description or key performance indicators. So it would be very easy for such an employee and his employer to develop a false sense of achievement. Anyway, that’s an aside issue.
Interestingly, it seems deepening rift between the Lagos State Governor Fashola and his estranged godfather Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has created a new type of governance model, which I will describe as “Work-chop-cracy”.
So what is “Work-chop-cracy”? This is a type of government that allows a leader, that is perceived to be performing well, to also engage in looting of the treasury – albeit at a lesser scale when compared to the “do nothing” leaders.
In the Work-chop-cratic government, the masses accept corruption as a way life. And as a friend noted recently, corruption in governance is regarded as second to the air we breathe under the model. The principle is, everyone elected into public office must “chop”, however the public officer must justify his chopping through “hard work and performance”. Hmmm….!
The acceptance of work-chop-cracy as a style of governance further highlights the delusion among the Nigeria masses. In the past, I’ve always been critical of the nation’s leadership and their role in encouraging corruption at levels of government. However, following some of the public comments on the alleged feud between Gov. Fashola and his predecessor, I’ve come to realise that we the masses are the biggest problem affecting Nigeria.
The question I asked the promoters of “work-chop-cracy” is, if the same allegations were raised against Gov. Alao-Akala or Gbenga Daniel, what would have been their response? Obviously, because these Governors have no track record of performance, they are always easy targets. We shout to high heavens when we hear of allegations of corruptions against those we consider as non-performing.
We are happy to see James Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion, Orji Kalu go to jail, but we are not interested in investigating allegations of corruption levelled against Fashola because we think he his performing. Such attitude smacks of hypocrisy.
If we decide not to take the allegations of corruption against Gov. Fashola seriously, what moral standing do we have to take the allegations against Gbenga Daniel seriously? Where is it written that an administrator can mismanage taxpayers’ money simply because he has implemented people-oriented projects? Is that what we define as dividends of democracy?
So what exactly is the big deal about investigating a sitting Governor? Is it not taxpayers’ money that he is been accused of misappropriating? Or may be I’m mistaking. Instead of whipping unnecessary sentiments, why not let’s focus our attention on the panel itself. Our energy should instead be directed towards urging the LSHA to conduct the investigation in a fair and transparent manner. And if they don’t, we can start making noises.
Probity, accountability and transparency are the key tenets of democratic governance. The taxpayer has the right to demand for information on how his taxes are been spent. No matter how good a governor performs, he still needs to be held accountable. After all, it’s not that he has invested his personal wealth in the development of the state.
And don’t get me wrong. I’ve not said that Gov. Fashola is guilty of the allegations. Until proven guilty, the Governor remains innocent. However, I do not support the argument that he should not be investigated because of his performance in office. Irrespective of the motive, I consider the allegations raised by the Face of Lagos group to be very serious, hence need for ‘thorough’ investigation. These allegations cannot just be swept under the carpet.
Eko o ni ba je o.......!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Rethinking the Lagos Residents' Identity Card
There is no doubt that Governor Fashola has been performing remarkably well since his assumption of office. In fact, his administration has provided some glimmer of hope for those who believed that nothing good can come out of our democratic governance.
Whilst the process from which he emerged as Governor remains questionable (a la Action Congress party primaries), he has no doubt grabbed the bull by the horn. He has taken advantage of the privilege he’s been granted, through effective leadership and vision.
Notwithstanding all the good work, I can still point to some key policy decisions taken by Fashola administration that are debatable. An example was the recent repatriation of destitute and beggars to Kaduna by officials of Lagos state government.
Some have argued that the street beggars need to be repatriated because they constitute a public nuisance and also, it is an offence under the state environmental laws to beg. Yes I agree, but what about the street urchins (area boys, the ‘omo isale eko’) terrorising innocent people to extort money? Will the Lagos state government deport them to their local governments? For me, the constitution is very clear. A Nigerian citizen is free to live wherever he or she chooses. And if anyone breaks the law, they should be charged to court under the applicable federal or state law.
Another example was the decision of the state government to introduce its own “driver’s re-certification cards”, which I will refer to de facto drivers’ licence. This again for me undermines the existence of the FRSC, an organisation that is legally charged with the responsibility of driver licensing.
The latest proposal which I find not only laughable but nonsensical - hence this article - is the plan to introduce an ‘identity card’ for Lagos residents.
According to Gov. Fashola,
Irrespective of Governor’s intent, I will state categorically that any plan to introduce an identity card by a state government is unconstitutional and thus illegal. One can only begin to wonder if Lagos is drifting towards becoming a ‘fascist’ state. Previously it was non-indigene street beggars that were repatriated, and now it is ID card.
So what exactly is Gov. Fashola trying to achieve? Who does he intend to issue with an ID card? Let’s assume the ID card will be only for Lagos residents. What about people who travel interstate to work in Lagos? Is Gov. Fashola thinking of rationing Lagos state infrastructure and services amongst Lagos residents only?
I sometimes don’t get it when people see Lagos as an ‘entity’ unto itself. Just because the state has been experiencing massive infrastructure development, when compared to other states – thanks to Gov. Fashola – does not give it any right to preclude non-indigenes from accessing state-funded services.
Already, we have a nation is divided along ethnic lines. This attitude of “if you are not a Lagos taxpayer, don’t come to Lagos” cannot be right for our democracy. Such attitude only entrench ethnic divisions, in country that has been blighted by years of ethnic violence.
We have situations where non-indigenes are not allowed access to some state-funded services. I know some state universities that an open policy of making it extremely hard for non-indigenes. There are some schools that charge students additional fees if there are non-indigene. And to think that a state government will go a step further, contemplating the introduction an ID card, is just preposterous.
Truth be told, no matter how inconsistent the nation’s constitution may be, Lagos is not a ‘sovereign’ state. Therefore, the Governor has no right to implement policies that will preclude non-indigenes. No state administrator has any right to control the number of people who choose to live in a state. Let the Governor be reminded that state government does not confer citizenship status. You can only be a Nigerian citizen.
There is no doubt that, for effective planning and service delivery, the state government needs to know the population of its local residents. I recall the controversies that ensued between the federal government and Lagos state following the last national population census. Which meant, depending on who you ask, the ‘official’ population of Lagos varies by as much as five million!
But instead of thinking about how to regulate influx of people into Lagos through a ‘not fit for purpose’ ID card scheme, there are other ways through which the state government can manage its rapid population growth. As with major cities of the world, population growth is managed through implementation of sound strategic planning policies.
Strategic land use planning provides an opportunity for the government to channel population growth towards specific areas. It also helps to regulate any proposed changes to land use by prohibiting certain development in specific areas.
Whilst the process from which he emerged as Governor remains questionable (a la Action Congress party primaries), he has no doubt grabbed the bull by the horn. He has taken advantage of the privilege he’s been granted, through effective leadership and vision.
Notwithstanding all the good work, I can still point to some key policy decisions taken by Fashola administration that are debatable. An example was the recent repatriation of destitute and beggars to Kaduna by officials of Lagos state government.
Some have argued that the street beggars need to be repatriated because they constitute a public nuisance and also, it is an offence under the state environmental laws to beg. Yes I agree, but what about the street urchins (area boys, the ‘omo isale eko’) terrorising innocent people to extort money? Will the Lagos state government deport them to their local governments? For me, the constitution is very clear. A Nigerian citizen is free to live wherever he or she chooses. And if anyone breaks the law, they should be charged to court under the applicable federal or state law.
Another example was the decision of the state government to introduce its own “driver’s re-certification cards”, which I will refer to de facto drivers’ licence. This again for me undermines the existence of the FRSC, an organisation that is legally charged with the responsibility of driver licensing.
The latest proposal which I find not only laughable but nonsensical - hence this article - is the plan to introduce an ‘identity card’ for Lagos residents.
According to Gov. Fashola,
"We have now reached a stage where it is no longer avoidable to ask: ‘How many people can Lagos State meaningfully employ and sustain?......The state is being faced with a daily influx of people from all over the country who want to take advantage of the opportunities of an economy that works…….But, the reality is that persistent uncontrolled population growth worsens the problem of poverty and negates the government's efforts to improve the quality of life for majority of the people."
Irrespective of Governor’s intent, I will state categorically that any plan to introduce an identity card by a state government is unconstitutional and thus illegal. One can only begin to wonder if Lagos is drifting towards becoming a ‘fascist’ state. Previously it was non-indigene street beggars that were repatriated, and now it is ID card.
There is no gainsaying that Lagos is under immense pressure as a result of continuous rural-urban migration. But the problem of urban migration is not just synonymous with Lagos. Major cities like New York, London and New Delhi also have to deal with same challenge. Whilst the influx of people also continues to put pressure on the local infrastructure of these major cities, I’m yet to read anywhere that the solution proffered by their administrators was introduction of ID cards. Instead of initiating policies that undermines the nation’s constitution, the Governor should rather agitate that Lagos be granted a ‘special’ status, in order to increase its federal revenue allocation.
So what exactly is Gov. Fashola trying to achieve? Who does he intend to issue with an ID card? Let’s assume the ID card will be only for Lagos residents. What about people who travel interstate to work in Lagos? Is Gov. Fashola thinking of rationing Lagos state infrastructure and services amongst Lagos residents only?
I sometimes don’t get it when people see Lagos as an ‘entity’ unto itself. Just because the state has been experiencing massive infrastructure development, when compared to other states – thanks to Gov. Fashola – does not give it any right to preclude non-indigenes from accessing state-funded services.
Already, we have a nation is divided along ethnic lines. This attitude of “if you are not a Lagos taxpayer, don’t come to Lagos” cannot be right for our democracy. Such attitude only entrench ethnic divisions, in country that has been blighted by years of ethnic violence.
We have situations where non-indigenes are not allowed access to some state-funded services. I know some state universities that an open policy of making it extremely hard for non-indigenes. There are some schools that charge students additional fees if there are non-indigene. And to think that a state government will go a step further, contemplating the introduction an ID card, is just preposterous.
Truth be told, no matter how inconsistent the nation’s constitution may be, Lagos is not a ‘sovereign’ state. Therefore, the Governor has no right to implement policies that will preclude non-indigenes. No state administrator has any right to control the number of people who choose to live in a state. Let the Governor be reminded that state government does not confer citizenship status. You can only be a Nigerian citizen.
There is no doubt that, for effective planning and service delivery, the state government needs to know the population of its local residents. I recall the controversies that ensued between the federal government and Lagos state following the last national population census. Which meant, depending on who you ask, the ‘official’ population of Lagos varies by as much as five million!
But instead of thinking about how to regulate influx of people into Lagos through a ‘not fit for purpose’ ID card scheme, there are other ways through which the state government can manage its rapid population growth. As with major cities of the world, population growth is managed through implementation of sound strategic planning policies.
Strategic land use planning provides an opportunity for the government to channel population growth towards specific areas. It also helps to regulate any proposed changes to land use by prohibiting certain development in specific areas.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Rebranding Lagos......
The decision of the Lagos state government to force owners of properties on major highways to “re-paint” their properties definitely needs a “rethink”. According to media reports, owners of properties along major highways were given 90-day ultimatum to undertake aesthetic improvements to their properties. This initiative, according to the Commissioner of Environment, Muiz Banire is in line with the Lagos Mega City Project. However following non-compliance, the Commissioner warned that “the state government would invoke its powers under Section 28 of the Land Use Act to seize properties of defaulters”.
In my opinion, I do not think it is right for any government be it local, state or federal to compel a landlord to re-paint his/her property. One may argue that if a property yields a monthly-rent, then is only right that the property owner keeps it maintained. And I will agree with such argument because if I’m a tenant, I will expect that my landlord to keep my rental accommodation aesthetically pleasing. Especially in a place like Lagos, where some landlords demand two years advance rent payment. However, what about owner-occupiers? Has the government considered the impact of such directive on owner occupiers who cannot afford to re-paint their houses? It is not unreasonable to assume that deplorable state of the nation’s economy would have played its part in the neglect of certain properties. Has anyone seen a property owner, who will deliberately allow his property to go derelict? Who does not want his house to look nice?
So what I’m saying? The government needs to reconsider its position on this matter. A blanket rule compelling all property owners to re-paint their houses is surely not the right thing to do. Individual property owner’s circumstances are different, and therefore the government should deal with the issue on “case by case” basis. In a civilised society, Government provides grants/loans for such purposes. And such loans/grants are “means-tested”, i.e. only made available to those who cannot afford the cost of the refurbishment. Why can’t the Lagos State Government do the same? In fact, the Lagos Mega City Project provides a justification for such a scheme.
Also, I find the threat to “seize” properties of defaulters laughable. Mr Muiz Banire, was quick to quote Land Use Act, saying that the government will invoke Section 28 of Land Use Act to deal with erring landlords. But having read the Land Use Act, I’m yet to find where it is written that a Governor may revoke a right of occupancy because a property owner refused to maintain the aesthetics of his/her property to a certain standard. This could only happen if maintenance of aesthetic standard is included is imposed on the land through a “covenant”. And thus, failure to re-paint would be regarded as a “breach” of covenant. Even in cases where such covenants are imposed, how do you define aesthetic standard? Interpretation of what acceptable standards will be very subjective. And as they say, “beauty is in eye of the beholder”. What I consider as pleasant may be an eyesore to someone else.
Whilst I appreciate Gov. Fashola’s enthusiasm to bring sanity back to Lagos, some of his recent actions have been questionable. Government actions should not place unnecessary hardship on the citizenry. The fact is, we operate an unregulated property industry, which means the additional cost of any forced refurbishment will only be passed on tenants.
In an effort to “rebrand” Lagos state, Gov. Fashola embarked on the Lagos Beautification Project - also known as “Operation Green Lagos”. The beautification project which is part of the Lagos Mega City Project, has so far resulted in provision of luxuriant vegetation, aesthetically appealing sites, and more importantly the reclamation of public parks and open spaces. Whilst there is no doubt that these cosmetic environmental upgrade have been beneficial, Gov. Fashola and his advisers must ensure that the government does not impinge on citizens’ rights. Also, the government should be mindful of the unintended consequences of its policies and actions.
In my opinion, I do not think it is right for any government be it local, state or federal to compel a landlord to re-paint his/her property. One may argue that if a property yields a monthly-rent, then is only right that the property owner keeps it maintained. And I will agree with such argument because if I’m a tenant, I will expect that my landlord to keep my rental accommodation aesthetically pleasing. Especially in a place like Lagos, where some landlords demand two years advance rent payment. However, what about owner-occupiers? Has the government considered the impact of such directive on owner occupiers who cannot afford to re-paint their houses? It is not unreasonable to assume that deplorable state of the nation’s economy would have played its part in the neglect of certain properties. Has anyone seen a property owner, who will deliberately allow his property to go derelict? Who does not want his house to look nice?
So what I’m saying? The government needs to reconsider its position on this matter. A blanket rule compelling all property owners to re-paint their houses is surely not the right thing to do. Individual property owner’s circumstances are different, and therefore the government should deal with the issue on “case by case” basis. In a civilised society, Government provides grants/loans for such purposes. And such loans/grants are “means-tested”, i.e. only made available to those who cannot afford the cost of the refurbishment. Why can’t the Lagos State Government do the same? In fact, the Lagos Mega City Project provides a justification for such a scheme.
Also, I find the threat to “seize” properties of defaulters laughable. Mr Muiz Banire, was quick to quote Land Use Act, saying that the government will invoke Section 28 of Land Use Act to deal with erring landlords. But having read the Land Use Act, I’m yet to find where it is written that a Governor may revoke a right of occupancy because a property owner refused to maintain the aesthetics of his/her property to a certain standard. This could only happen if maintenance of aesthetic standard is included is imposed on the land through a “covenant”. And thus, failure to re-paint would be regarded as a “breach” of covenant. Even in cases where such covenants are imposed, how do you define aesthetic standard? Interpretation of what acceptable standards will be very subjective. And as they say, “beauty is in eye of the beholder”. What I consider as pleasant may be an eyesore to someone else.
Whilst I appreciate Gov. Fashola’s enthusiasm to bring sanity back to Lagos, some of his recent actions have been questionable. Government actions should not place unnecessary hardship on the citizenry. The fact is, we operate an unregulated property industry, which means the additional cost of any forced refurbishment will only be passed on tenants.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Lagos Drivers' Certification Card and FRSC
Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola last week launched the Driver Re-certification Card. The card - which will be issued by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute - will be a pre-requisite for driving on Lagos roads for both commercial and private drivers. However, according to Mr Kayode Opeifa (Special Adviser on Transportation), the card is not a substitute for the national driving licence - administered by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). But as part of the scheme, commercial and professional drivers will need to undergo annual re-training at the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute.
Whilst Gov. Fashola should be commended for initiative, there are two issues with this project that concerns me. Firstly, why the need for annual re-training? For starters, Nigeria is the only place I’m aware of, where holders of a national drivers’ licence are required to undertake a re-certification training by a state government. Okay let’s even accept that every driver in Lagos needs to be re-trained, because it is no secret that majority of drivers’ licence holders in Nigeria never visited a test centre talk less sit a driving test. I wouldn’t even be surprised if they don’t know what the “highway code” looks like. But having said that, how many times do you really need to be trained? Is the Lagos state government saying that road traffic rules in Lagos are so dynamic that one needs to be trained annually? I find this laughable to say the least. In most parts of the world, drivers are usually required to undergo re-assessment when they reach the age of 70years. And this is quite understandable. The introduction of a ‘world-class’ training facility for drivers and at the same time subjecting them to annual training seems contradictory. If a driver a properly trained to international standard once, then we re-train annually. Already, there are sections of the society who are saying the annual re-training is just a money making exercise. But can you really blame such conspiracy theorists, when such a policy cannot in anyway be justified.
I do not blame Gov. Fashola for introducing an initiative that is a core responsibility of a federal agency. It is quite understandable that there are significant traffic issues in Lagos he needs to deal with. And it has become apparent that the FRSC is incompetent in this regard. However, the introduction of driver re-certification if not checked could create chaos in the system. This of course brings me to the second issue. What will happen, if other states decide to pursue the same agenda? Does that mean a commercial driver that travels interstate will have to undertake a “re-certification training” in every state of the federation? The fact remains that there is no legislation that compels any state to accept a drivers’ certificate issued by another state.
Whether the project succeeds or not, Gov. Fashola’s initiative has again exposed the ineptitude of the FRSC in discharging its statutory responsibilities. The failure of the FRSC in the area of driver and vehicular licensing cannot be overemphasised; hence Gov. Fashola’s re-certification scheme. One of the reasons why the FRSC was established was “ to design the driver’s license to be used by all vehicle operators and to determine from time to time, the requirement to be satisfied by an applicant for a driver’s license”. But unfortunately, applicants have to navigate through an arduous bureaucratic process that has almost entirely been hijacked by touts, fraudsters and corrupt government officials. For a paltry some of N5,000 you could have a licence delivered to your front door without undergoing any form of test or assessment. Whether an applicant is medically fit to drive a car is not even an issue. As a result, there are lots of drivers on our roads who lack understanding of basic road traffic rules. Some are even mentally deficient.
The Lagos project therefore calls into question the role of the FRSC in driver and vehicle licensing. According to Mr Wole Olaniran, the Zonal Commanding Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps Zone 2, “the initiative of the Lagos State government for the annual re-certification of drivers in the state, should be emulated by other states and the private sector”. He further added that Driver’s Recertification Card will help checkmate the issuance of fake national driver’s license and entrench sanity on Nigeria’s roads. But does it mean that the FRSC is now absolving itself from its statutory responsibilities? Yes I agree that card could help checkmate forgery, but what has been the FRSC effort at tackling forgery since its creation? What if the state is not blessed with a proactive Governor such as Fashola? I consider the statement of the Zonal Commander as an indictment of an agency that seems to have lost focus. Is he publicly calling for state governments and private sector to take over the functions of the FRSC? The fact that a state government re-certification card now takes precedence over the national drivers licence only makes a mockery of the federal government licensing scheme. What is the purpose of a FRSC national drivers’ license that you can “buy” for N5,000 when you still need to obtain a re-certification card before you can drive?
The efforts of the likes of Gov. Fashola should however be used to put pressure on the Federal govt to officially absolve itself from duties that are primary functions of a state government. The current situation is totally at odds with the principle of “federalism”. And in order to forestall chaos in the system, my advice to the government is, if the federal government still intends to be in control of vehicle and driver licensing, then it is imperative that the FRSC is strengthened to deliver on its responsibilities. An alternative is a review of the functions of the FRSC, with the aim of transferring vehicle and driver licensing to respective state governments, as it would be expected in a genuine federal system. This will however require changes to the legislation, which will compel state governments to accept drivers’ licence issued from other states. The FRSC should therefore be made to focus on road safety and development of appropriate driving standards.
Whilst Gov. Fashola should be commended for initiative, there are two issues with this project that concerns me. Firstly, why the need for annual re-training? For starters, Nigeria is the only place I’m aware of, where holders of a national drivers’ licence are required to undertake a re-certification training by a state government. Okay let’s even accept that every driver in Lagos needs to be re-trained, because it is no secret that majority of drivers’ licence holders in Nigeria never visited a test centre talk less sit a driving test. I wouldn’t even be surprised if they don’t know what the “highway code” looks like. But having said that, how many times do you really need to be trained? Is the Lagos state government saying that road traffic rules in Lagos are so dynamic that one needs to be trained annually? I find this laughable to say the least. In most parts of the world, drivers are usually required to undergo re-assessment when they reach the age of 70years. And this is quite understandable. The introduction of a ‘world-class’ training facility for drivers and at the same time subjecting them to annual training seems contradictory. If a driver a properly trained to international standard once, then we re-train annually. Already, there are sections of the society who are saying the annual re-training is just a money making exercise. But can you really blame such conspiracy theorists, when such a policy cannot in anyway be justified.
I do not blame Gov. Fashola for introducing an initiative that is a core responsibility of a federal agency. It is quite understandable that there are significant traffic issues in Lagos he needs to deal with. And it has become apparent that the FRSC is incompetent in this regard. However, the introduction of driver re-certification if not checked could create chaos in the system. This of course brings me to the second issue. What will happen, if other states decide to pursue the same agenda? Does that mean a commercial driver that travels interstate will have to undertake a “re-certification training” in every state of the federation? The fact remains that there is no legislation that compels any state to accept a drivers’ certificate issued by another state.
Whether the project succeeds or not, Gov. Fashola’s initiative has again exposed the ineptitude of the FRSC in discharging its statutory responsibilities. The failure of the FRSC in the area of driver and vehicular licensing cannot be overemphasised; hence Gov. Fashola’s re-certification scheme. One of the reasons why the FRSC was established was “ to design the driver’s license to be used by all vehicle operators and to determine from time to time, the requirement to be satisfied by an applicant for a driver’s license”. But unfortunately, applicants have to navigate through an arduous bureaucratic process that has almost entirely been hijacked by touts, fraudsters and corrupt government officials. For a paltry some of N5,000 you could have a licence delivered to your front door without undergoing any form of test or assessment. Whether an applicant is medically fit to drive a car is not even an issue. As a result, there are lots of drivers on our roads who lack understanding of basic road traffic rules. Some are even mentally deficient.
The Lagos project therefore calls into question the role of the FRSC in driver and vehicle licensing. According to Mr Wole Olaniran, the Zonal Commanding Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps Zone 2, “the initiative of the Lagos State government for the annual re-certification of drivers in the state, should be emulated by other states and the private sector”. He further added that Driver’s Recertification Card will help checkmate the issuance of fake national driver’s license and entrench sanity on Nigeria’s roads. But does it mean that the FRSC is now absolving itself from its statutory responsibilities? Yes I agree that card could help checkmate forgery, but what has been the FRSC effort at tackling forgery since its creation? What if the state is not blessed with a proactive Governor such as Fashola? I consider the statement of the Zonal Commander as an indictment of an agency that seems to have lost focus. Is he publicly calling for state governments and private sector to take over the functions of the FRSC? The fact that a state government re-certification card now takes precedence over the national drivers licence only makes a mockery of the federal government licensing scheme. What is the purpose of a FRSC national drivers’ license that you can “buy” for N5,000 when you still need to obtain a re-certification card before you can drive?
The efforts of the likes of Gov. Fashola should however be used to put pressure on the Federal govt to officially absolve itself from duties that are primary functions of a state government. The current situation is totally at odds with the principle of “federalism”. And in order to forestall chaos in the system, my advice to the government is, if the federal government still intends to be in control of vehicle and driver licensing, then it is imperative that the FRSC is strengthened to deliver on its responsibilities. An alternative is a review of the functions of the FRSC, with the aim of transferring vehicle and driver licensing to respective state governments, as it would be expected in a genuine federal system. This will however require changes to the legislation, which will compel state governments to accept drivers’ licence issued from other states. The FRSC should therefore be made to focus on road safety and development of appropriate driving standards.
Monday, July 20, 2009
MEND, Lagos State and Atlas Cove Jetty Attack
Like most people, I have been following the public reaction to the recent bombing of Lagos Atlas Cove jetty. As we all know, this recent action is totally different from what we have experienced in the past. Since the start of the militancy, actions of groups such as MEND, NDVF have been limited to the Niger Delta region. However, the recent bombing of the Atlas Cove jetty signals a massive change in momentum. It is the strongest indication so far of the threat we are facing as a nation, if the Niger Delta crisis is allowed to escalate. Public reactions to the bombing have been very interesting, particularly from the State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola and the so-called “Lagos Elders”.
Following the attack, Governor Fashola was quoted in the media saying “If this (Atlas Cove Jetty bombing) was a mistake, we expect that it must never repeat itself as we will respond to this new security threat appropriately”. Also, a group of traditional rulers, politicians and community leaders in Lagos state, “warned” the Niger Delta militants against further attacks in the state. According to the Elders, “……the incident must never again be repeated as any attempt to do so would be met with serious consequences which attackers will live to regret”(!).
The impact of any form of attack on the Atlas Cove jetty cannot be over-emphasized. Especially in a country that is largely dependent on imported fuel products. Being the largest fuel import terminal, any attack will have a huge impact on fuel distribution and supply. Such attack is also threat to the security of Lagos State and it status as the nation’s business capital. However, I am still at a loss with the meaning of the statements credited to Governor Fashola and the Lagos Elders.
As the Chief Security Officer of Lagos State, I appreciate that the onus is on Gov. Fashola to ensure peace and security in the state. But the question is, does he really have the power ensure peace and security in the state? Let’s even assume the Niger Delta issue escalates and more bombing is carried out in Lagos, how does Gov. Fashola intend to responds to such threat “appropriately”? The fact remains that he neither controls the police nor the military? The Commissioner of Police receives his orders from Abuja and not from any state governor. The Commandants of the military formations in the state are only answerable to their khaki masters.
The same can also be said about the comments of the Lagos Elders. Are would they deal with the threat from MEND? Are they intending on using the OPC or what? Or perform some traditional rites on the militants? Or will they start killing all Niger Delta citizens living in Lagos?
I’m sorry to say, but comments like these encapsulate the problem of this nation. We are sometimes myopic in our thinking. People don’t really care what happens to their neighbour as long as they are not affected. The state Governors are happy to travel to Abuja at the end of every month to collect their share from proceeds of Niger Delta oil, but are not interested in the problems of Niger Delta. As the Yorubas say, “owo epo ni aye ba ni la, wo nki ba ni la owo eje”.
So what am I saying? The Niger Delta crisis should not be politicised. Although, attacks have been limited to the Niger Delta region, it is not just about Niger Delta. This is a national issue. I’m sure the militants are not interested in destroying innocent lives in Lagos or bringing Lagos to its knees.
It is okay for the Elders to say Lagos is not Niger Delta. It is okay for Lagos residents to be considered as innocent civilians in the Niger Delta crisis. However, what about innocent lives that has been lost in Niger Delta as a result of the militancy? Are we now saying that they deserve to be bombed because they live in the Niger Delta? God forbid but if the Niger Delta crisis turns into a “civil law”, will Lagos state be immune?
Whilst I’m not in support of the recent action on the Atlas Cove jetty or destruction of lives and properties in general, I don’t think it is right for anyone to trivialise the Niger Delta issue. Instead of making inflammatory comments, the whole nation should be united in condemning the ineptitude and insincerity of the Federal Government in dealing with the Niger Delta issue.
We need not to x-ray the Niger Delta crisis through a tribal microscope. It is a national issue that deserves a national solution.
Following the attack, Governor Fashola was quoted in the media saying “If this (Atlas Cove Jetty bombing) was a mistake, we expect that it must never repeat itself as we will respond to this new security threat appropriately”. Also, a group of traditional rulers, politicians and community leaders in Lagos state, “warned” the Niger Delta militants against further attacks in the state. According to the Elders, “……the incident must never again be repeated as any attempt to do so would be met with serious consequences which attackers will live to regret”(!).
The impact of any form of attack on the Atlas Cove jetty cannot be over-emphasized. Especially in a country that is largely dependent on imported fuel products. Being the largest fuel import terminal, any attack will have a huge impact on fuel distribution and supply. Such attack is also threat to the security of Lagos State and it status as the nation’s business capital. However, I am still at a loss with the meaning of the statements credited to Governor Fashola and the Lagos Elders.
As the Chief Security Officer of Lagos State, I appreciate that the onus is on Gov. Fashola to ensure peace and security in the state. But the question is, does he really have the power ensure peace and security in the state? Let’s even assume the Niger Delta issue escalates and more bombing is carried out in Lagos, how does Gov. Fashola intend to responds to such threat “appropriately”? The fact remains that he neither controls the police nor the military? The Commissioner of Police receives his orders from Abuja and not from any state governor. The Commandants of the military formations in the state are only answerable to their khaki masters.
The same can also be said about the comments of the Lagos Elders. Are would they deal with the threat from MEND? Are they intending on using the OPC or what? Or perform some traditional rites on the militants? Or will they start killing all Niger Delta citizens living in Lagos?
I’m sorry to say, but comments like these encapsulate the problem of this nation. We are sometimes myopic in our thinking. People don’t really care what happens to their neighbour as long as they are not affected. The state Governors are happy to travel to Abuja at the end of every month to collect their share from proceeds of Niger Delta oil, but are not interested in the problems of Niger Delta. As the Yorubas say, “owo epo ni aye ba ni la, wo nki ba ni la owo eje”.
So what am I saying? The Niger Delta crisis should not be politicised. Although, attacks have been limited to the Niger Delta region, it is not just about Niger Delta. This is a national issue. I’m sure the militants are not interested in destroying innocent lives in Lagos or bringing Lagos to its knees.
It is okay for the Elders to say Lagos is not Niger Delta. It is okay for Lagos residents to be considered as innocent civilians in the Niger Delta crisis. However, what about innocent lives that has been lost in Niger Delta as a result of the militancy? Are we now saying that they deserve to be bombed because they live in the Niger Delta? God forbid but if the Niger Delta crisis turns into a “civil law”, will Lagos state be immune?
Whilst I’m not in support of the recent action on the Atlas Cove jetty or destruction of lives and properties in general, I don’t think it is right for anyone to trivialise the Niger Delta issue. Instead of making inflammatory comments, the whole nation should be united in condemning the ineptitude and insincerity of the Federal Government in dealing with the Niger Delta issue.
We need not to x-ray the Niger Delta crisis through a tribal microscope. It is a national issue that deserves a national solution.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Gov. Fashola, DPA and Alpha-Beta Consultants
During the mid-term anniversary of Gov. Raji Fashola, Democratic Peoples’ Alliance (DPA) Director of Publicity, Felix Oboagwina, noted that the Lagos state government has been harbouring waste in the system for paying no less than N36 billion to the Alpha-Beta Consultancy Limited from the internally-generated revenue of over N240 billion.
The need for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has been increasingly important for state governments following recent decline in price of crude oil - which impacted significantly on revenue allocation. Prior to the global financial crisis, most State executives were fond of going to sleep for 29 days only to turn up in Abuja at the end of the month to collect their share of nation’s oil proceeds.
With regards to Lagos, Col. Buba Marwa, increased the state IGR to over N600 million from the N100 million he inherited. And by the end of the tenure of Bola Tinubu, IGR was over N10 billion. And now under the governorship of Babatunde Fashola, IGR in Lagos State is over N200 billion. The revenue collection was contracted out to private consultants Alpha-Beta under Tinubu and Fashola administration.
Whilst it is important to give credit to Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu and Gov. Raji Fashola for their innovation and efforts in increasing the state IGR, it is also important that the issues raised by DPA are not swept under the carpet. Alpha-Beta Consulting Ltd is paid 15% of the state IGR, and DPA wants the government to review its terms of engagement with consultancy firm.
I will note that engagement of consultants in the area of revenue collection did not start with Gov. Raji Fashola or his predecessor. Col. Buba Marwa contracted revenue collection to Olusola Adekanola and Co. during his administration. However, whether this practice is ‘legal’ is a matter for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
However, the issue in this matter borders on probity and accountability. If I’m a Lagos state taxpayer, I will want to know more about the "process" undertaken to engage a consultant that is paid N3 billion monthly. The questions Gov. Fashola should be asked are, why was Alpha-Beta selected as the preferred consultant? Did the government invite consultancy bids for the contract? How many consultancy companies submitted bids for the contract? Considering that Alpha-Beta has no known track record of revenue collection, what were the criteria used in selecting Alpha-Beta?
There are also rumours in certain quarters that Alpha-Beta is owned by Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu. Whilst Gov. Fashola has neither confirmed nor denied these rumours, I will note that the rumours remain unsubstantiated. If principle of ‘due process’ was adhered to, then does it really matter who owns the company?
Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu is a citizen like everyone else, and he has the right to sit on the board of private companies or engage in private business. And as far as I’m aware, there is no law in the Nigeria that precludes former political office holders from lobbying for government contracts. In fact this is a common practice in the western world because private companies believe politicians have the right contacts within the government. The issue for the government is to make sure that any percieved 'conflict of interest' is adequately addressed. So if indeed Alpha-Beta is owned by Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu, Gov.Fashola needs to let the public know that there wasn't any ‘conflict of interest’ in way and manner the contract was handled.
Considering Gov. Fashola’s good work in Lagos, and the clear evidence of phenomenal increase in IGR since his assumption of office, some will argue that Gov. Fashola does not owe anyone any explanation on the Alpha-Beta contract. My question to such people is, how are we sure that the Alpha-Beta contract provides ‘value-for-money’ to the taxpayers? Because ultimately, it’s taxpayers’ money that is been used to pay for their services. The fact that an administrator is performing well does not mean that he should not be held accountable for his actions. Alpha-Beta charges 15% of the state IGR, what makes us think that another company couldn’t have provided same service at a lower cost – say 10%? I want to agree with DPA that N36 billion is a colossal amount of money to pay an individual firm over a two-year period. And if such amount of money is channelled into any sector, it is inevitable that impact will be felt.
Whilst the payment to Alpha-Beta might be seen as a ‘waste’ by the opposition, Gov. Fashola’s response to the questions raised above might just help quell the rumours and provide a justification for such expenditure in the state budget, especially in the current economic climate.
The need for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has been increasingly important for state governments following recent decline in price of crude oil - which impacted significantly on revenue allocation. Prior to the global financial crisis, most State executives were fond of going to sleep for 29 days only to turn up in Abuja at the end of the month to collect their share of nation’s oil proceeds.
With regards to Lagos, Col. Buba Marwa, increased the state IGR to over N600 million from the N100 million he inherited. And by the end of the tenure of Bola Tinubu, IGR was over N10 billion. And now under the governorship of Babatunde Fashola, IGR in Lagos State is over N200 billion. The revenue collection was contracted out to private consultants Alpha-Beta under Tinubu and Fashola administration.
Whilst it is important to give credit to Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu and Gov. Raji Fashola for their innovation and efforts in increasing the state IGR, it is also important that the issues raised by DPA are not swept under the carpet. Alpha-Beta Consulting Ltd is paid 15% of the state IGR, and DPA wants the government to review its terms of engagement with consultancy firm.
I will note that engagement of consultants in the area of revenue collection did not start with Gov. Raji Fashola or his predecessor. Col. Buba Marwa contracted revenue collection to Olusola Adekanola and Co. during his administration. However, whether this practice is ‘legal’ is a matter for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
However, the issue in this matter borders on probity and accountability. If I’m a Lagos state taxpayer, I will want to know more about the "process" undertaken to engage a consultant that is paid N3 billion monthly. The questions Gov. Fashola should be asked are, why was Alpha-Beta selected as the preferred consultant? Did the government invite consultancy bids for the contract? How many consultancy companies submitted bids for the contract? Considering that Alpha-Beta has no known track record of revenue collection, what were the criteria used in selecting Alpha-Beta?
There are also rumours in certain quarters that Alpha-Beta is owned by Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu. Whilst Gov. Fashola has neither confirmed nor denied these rumours, I will note that the rumours remain unsubstantiated. If principle of ‘due process’ was adhered to, then does it really matter who owns the company?
Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu is a citizen like everyone else, and he has the right to sit on the board of private companies or engage in private business. And as far as I’m aware, there is no law in the Nigeria that precludes former political office holders from lobbying for government contracts. In fact this is a common practice in the western world because private companies believe politicians have the right contacts within the government. The issue for the government is to make sure that any percieved 'conflict of interest' is adequately addressed. So if indeed Alpha-Beta is owned by Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu, Gov.Fashola needs to let the public know that there wasn't any ‘conflict of interest’ in way and manner the contract was handled.
Considering Gov. Fashola’s good work in Lagos, and the clear evidence of phenomenal increase in IGR since his assumption of office, some will argue that Gov. Fashola does not owe anyone any explanation on the Alpha-Beta contract. My question to such people is, how are we sure that the Alpha-Beta contract provides ‘value-for-money’ to the taxpayers? Because ultimately, it’s taxpayers’ money that is been used to pay for their services. The fact that an administrator is performing well does not mean that he should not be held accountable for his actions. Alpha-Beta charges 15% of the state IGR, what makes us think that another company couldn’t have provided same service at a lower cost – say 10%? I want to agree with DPA that N36 billion is a colossal amount of money to pay an individual firm over a two-year period. And if such amount of money is channelled into any sector, it is inevitable that impact will be felt.
Whilst the payment to Alpha-Beta might be seen as a ‘waste’ by the opposition, Gov. Fashola’s response to the questions raised above might just help quell the rumours and provide a justification for such expenditure in the state budget, especially in the current economic climate.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Who Is the Best Lagos State Governor?
Recently while reading discussions on a public forum, I came across a post titled ‘Who is the Best Lagos State Governor?’ Although, Lagos State has had four civilian governors and 12 military governors/administrators to date, the author of the post was specifically comparing the records of following state executives, Alhaji Lateef Jakande(1979-1983), Late Air Commodore Gbolahan Mudashiru (1984-1986), Brigadier-General Raji Rasaki (1988-1991), Col Buba Marwa (1996-1999) and Babatunde Raji Fashola (2007-till date). I will note that public opinion on this issue was somewhat divided, as people rated each governor based on their perception of each governor’s performance.
You will agree with me that these five state administrators have all left indelible marks on the face of Lagos - whether good or bad. The names of some these administrators are synonymous with some of the landmark projects/initiatives they implemented while in office. We can remember Jakande for ‘free education’, Mudashiru for his ‘prototype school buildings’, Raji Rasaki for the ‘third mainland bridge’, Marwa for ‘Operation Sweep’ and Fashola for bringing sanity to Oshodi.
It will however be difficult to compare the incumbent state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola to the previous state administrators. The reason is that, although he has implemented major public initiatives and projects since his assumption of office, his administration is still in its early days. And also, it will be unfair to compare him with the previous administrators, most of who were in office for at least three years. But from my own viewpoint, I do strongly feel that best administrator to have ever governed Lagos State in my generation is Alhaji Lateef Jakande. And I will tell you the reason why.
For me, Alhaji Jakande was the best governor not just because of his ‘free education’, mass housing programme or implementation of ferry transport services. Having said that, these projects are yet to be surpassed by any other administration. They are thousands of people today, who will not have had opportunity to be educated or own a home if not for the Jakande administration.
My assessment of the Jakande administration is based on ‘vision’ and ‘sincerity of purpose’. I’m yet to see any state administrator (excluding the Babatunde Fashola), anywhere in Nigeria who had or shared the same vision with Jakande. I have also not seen any administrator who implemented projects/initiatives with same sincerity as Jakande. In terms of vision, the Jakande administration worked tirelessly to put Lagos State on the right path of development. The administration did not embark on headline grabbing projects that were only aimed at scoring cheap political goals but offered no value to the masses. He understood the importance of developing human capacity, hence his free education. He knew that ‘health is wealth’, hence, his free health programme. With little resources, he was able to create a pseudo social welfare system in Lagos State. He was also an ardent believer in the system he created. He did not travel overseas for medical check ups. His personal physician was a medical doctor from the public hospital. His children attended public schools. To demonstrate his commitment and sincerity, he ordered all his aides to withdraw their children from private schools and enrol them in public schools. This is a man that was willing to set an example. How many children of our state administrators are studying in Nigeria talk less of attending public school.
He was very sincere in his actions. He didn’t embark on projects to suit personal interest. His housing programme is a very good example. He was not just building houses to sell to his cronies, aides or members of his family. His housing programme was aimed at the poor masses. Civil servants benefitted immensely from this scheme. He never allowed any of his aides to purchase any of the housing units, except for those who did those through fraudulent means. I will be quick to point out that Alhaji Jakande wasn’t only the state administrator that has embarked on ‘low-cost’ housing programme. We all can remember Marwa Gardens, Jubilee Estate etc. But let’s ask ourselves, how many of these housing units were actually allocated to low income earners and working class. Most of these housing units were sold ‘off plan’ to government cronies, most of whom never had intention to live in such housing estates. Can you imagine someone living in a 5-bedroom house in Ikoyi, moving to Ajangbadi?
I can’s stop asking myself, how Lagos would have been if the policies/initiatives of Jakande were continued. This was a man who introduced ferry services in the early 80’s. He was on the verge of delivering a mass transportation system (metro rail) as far back as the early 80’s. This was when the population of Lagos was barely five million. For me, this is a man who had a vision; he understood the implication of rapid urbanisation on transport infrastructure. For those who may not know, the Jakande administration did all the ground work for the rail project now been proposed by the current administration. The government went has as far as acquiring the corridor for the rail project. Some of which have now been sold off to cronies of subsequent governments.
He was however criticised for building temporary structures as classrooms and taking over people’s land/properties to build schools? But the point is, he was sincere in his actions. He didn’t take over people’s properties to reallocate to his friends and allies. It was all for public good.
It is sad that 26 yrs on, state administrators are now been celebrated for implementing mundane projects. Governors are now awarded for things like routine road maintenance. But unfortunately, this is the ridicule we face as citizens. With the way these projects are sometimes celebrated, you want to ask yourself, is the Governor spending his own money or taxpayers’ money?
As for Babatunde Fashola, I must commend him for his work so far. Also, he still has 2+4 years to write his name in gold, and surpass the achievement of others.
Eko o ni ba je o!
You will agree with me that these five state administrators have all left indelible marks on the face of Lagos - whether good or bad. The names of some these administrators are synonymous with some of the landmark projects/initiatives they implemented while in office. We can remember Jakande for ‘free education’, Mudashiru for his ‘prototype school buildings’, Raji Rasaki for the ‘third mainland bridge’, Marwa for ‘Operation Sweep’ and Fashola for bringing sanity to Oshodi.
It will however be difficult to compare the incumbent state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola to the previous state administrators. The reason is that, although he has implemented major public initiatives and projects since his assumption of office, his administration is still in its early days. And also, it will be unfair to compare him with the previous administrators, most of who were in office for at least three years. But from my own viewpoint, I do strongly feel that best administrator to have ever governed Lagos State in my generation is Alhaji Lateef Jakande. And I will tell you the reason why.
For me, Alhaji Jakande was the best governor not just because of his ‘free education’, mass housing programme or implementation of ferry transport services. Having said that, these projects are yet to be surpassed by any other administration. They are thousands of people today, who will not have had opportunity to be educated or own a home if not for the Jakande administration.
My assessment of the Jakande administration is based on ‘vision’ and ‘sincerity of purpose’. I’m yet to see any state administrator (excluding the Babatunde Fashola), anywhere in Nigeria who had or shared the same vision with Jakande. I have also not seen any administrator who implemented projects/initiatives with same sincerity as Jakande. In terms of vision, the Jakande administration worked tirelessly to put Lagos State on the right path of development. The administration did not embark on headline grabbing projects that were only aimed at scoring cheap political goals but offered no value to the masses. He understood the importance of developing human capacity, hence his free education. He knew that ‘health is wealth’, hence, his free health programme. With little resources, he was able to create a pseudo social welfare system in Lagos State. He was also an ardent believer in the system he created. He did not travel overseas for medical check ups. His personal physician was a medical doctor from the public hospital. His children attended public schools. To demonstrate his commitment and sincerity, he ordered all his aides to withdraw their children from private schools and enrol them in public schools. This is a man that was willing to set an example. How many children of our state administrators are studying in Nigeria talk less of attending public school.
He was very sincere in his actions. He didn’t embark on projects to suit personal interest. His housing programme is a very good example. He was not just building houses to sell to his cronies, aides or members of his family. His housing programme was aimed at the poor masses. Civil servants benefitted immensely from this scheme. He never allowed any of his aides to purchase any of the housing units, except for those who did those through fraudulent means. I will be quick to point out that Alhaji Jakande wasn’t only the state administrator that has embarked on ‘low-cost’ housing programme. We all can remember Marwa Gardens, Jubilee Estate etc. But let’s ask ourselves, how many of these housing units were actually allocated to low income earners and working class. Most of these housing units were sold ‘off plan’ to government cronies, most of whom never had intention to live in such housing estates. Can you imagine someone living in a 5-bedroom house in Ikoyi, moving to Ajangbadi?
I can’s stop asking myself, how Lagos would have been if the policies/initiatives of Jakande were continued. This was a man who introduced ferry services in the early 80’s. He was on the verge of delivering a mass transportation system (metro rail) as far back as the early 80’s. This was when the population of Lagos was barely five million. For me, this is a man who had a vision; he understood the implication of rapid urbanisation on transport infrastructure. For those who may not know, the Jakande administration did all the ground work for the rail project now been proposed by the current administration. The government went has as far as acquiring the corridor for the rail project. Some of which have now been sold off to cronies of subsequent governments.
He was however criticised for building temporary structures as classrooms and taking over people’s land/properties to build schools? But the point is, he was sincere in his actions. He didn’t take over people’s properties to reallocate to his friends and allies. It was all for public good.
It is sad that 26 yrs on, state administrators are now been celebrated for implementing mundane projects. Governors are now awarded for things like routine road maintenance. But unfortunately, this is the ridicule we face as citizens. With the way these projects are sometimes celebrated, you want to ask yourself, is the Governor spending his own money or taxpayers’ money?
As for Babatunde Fashola, I must commend him for his work so far. Also, he still has 2+4 years to write his name in gold, and surpass the achievement of others.
Eko o ni ba je o!
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