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Presidential Committee On FG Assets In Lagos: Fashola, SGF Call For Sincerity

Feb 16, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, on Monday called for sincerity among members of the Presidential Committee on Federal Government Assets in Lagos in order to achieve the desired solution to the lingering problem.

Governor Fashola, who spoke when he received a large delegation of members of the Committee from Abuja in his office, said the present committee has the opportunity to succeed where previous committees had failed, adding that with sincerity and commitment the problem would be solved.

“I must say we are in another opportuned time because this is not the first committee that has been set up. But I think this is momentous because we have the opportunity to succeed where previous committees failed to succeed. It is momentous because we now have an opportunity to solve problems that are as old as 40 years and above. We have opportunity to put aside ego”.

According to the Governor, “The issues are really not about private assets. They are issues about the relation of one government to the other and the impact of that government on people, whether they be from Kebbi, whether they be from Nasarawa, whether they be from Edo, who have chosen to make Lagos their home”.

He said the Lagos State Government had demonstrated its commitment to the success of the committee both through the level of attendance and more importantly by postponing its Monday Executive Council Meeting for this Monday in order to devote the day to the committee.

“More importantly is the fact that in the 20 odd months since this administration took office; this is the first Monday that we will not hold our Executive Council Meeting. This is the level of our commitment. This is the importance we attach to this assignment and we have decided that for the first time we will not hold our Council Meeting today”.

The Governor thanked President Umar Musa Yar’Adua for living up to the promise he made to him some months ago about setting up the Presidential team to tackle the problems, saying the President had demonstrated a very high sense of commitment to finding lasting solution to the lingering problem’

Apparently setting the agenda for the Committee, Governor Fashola, who delved into the genesis of the present problems, said it all started when Lagos State was created and played a dual role of a State and a Federal Capital, adding that the problems took a different dimension when the Federal Capital was moved to Abuja.

He queried: “How does the Federal Government that was also in Lagos deal with a colony that has become a state but where it still maintains its so-called territorial hold. The issue was compounded when the capital was moved to Abuja. How do we now deal with the former Federal Capital? How have previous nations who have moved capital dealt with the former capitals? These are some of the issues we must tackle and resolve”.

According to him, “Lagos has ceased to be the administrative capital of Nigeria but it remains the Economic capital. It remains a major contributor to her GDP. If the capital had not moved, all the ministers and permanent Secretaries that are here today will be operating in Lagos. How has these ministers treated Abuja lately? Does Lagos deserve less? These are the issues to be treated”.

Other issues raised by Governor Fashola included whether or not Lagos should be treated specially because of her economic importance to the nation, how to deal with the Federal Government assets left in the state which it no longer needs, and how such issues have been dealt with by other countries that have moved their capitals.

The Governor said if members of the committee would make the people the centre of all their discussions, they would arrive at a very acceptable decision at the end of the day adding that the success of the Committee would be particularly momentous because they will serve as a model for the country and because it would be probably the first time this kind of meeting has been convened without any external influence but by the commitment of two heads of governments.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the SGF had emphasized on the need for the two parties to go into the issues involved with brotherly love and understanding devoid of ethnicity or religious differences, adding that it is the only way to arrive at an acceptable solution.

He praised Governor Fashola for his commitment to the progress and development of Lagos State adding, “You are sincere and dedicated to make a difference. He urged the Governor to be dedicated to the Committee also assuring him that success would be achieved.

Other members of the Committee present included : the Minister of Works and Housing, Interior Minister, Minister of Transport, Minister of the Environment (Represented by Perm Sec.), Attorney General and Minister of Justice (Represented by Solicitor General) , Corps Marshal FRSC, representative of BPE and representative of Chief of Defense Staff .

Also present were the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adebisi Sosan, Secretary to the State Government, members of the State Executive Council and other top government functionaries.