Hardship: Sanwo-Olu, Fashola call for urgent sacrifices for solution

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his predecessor in office, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said that the burden during the country’s current economic challenges is a call for urgency and sacrifices as a way of weathering the downturn.

The duo, who spoke during the 18th edition of the state Executive and Legislative Parley, which took place at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, affirmed this, emphasizing the need for more empowerment programs to cater to the vulnerable and small businesses in the state.

The event, themed “Engaging All for Inclusive Governance; Hands-On for a Greater Lagos Rising,” was organized by the Office of Political, Legislative & Civic Engagement.

Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that such burdens at this particular point in time call for higher dedication, innovative strategies, a sense of urgency, and sacrifice, pointing out that his administration had since inaugurated a Special Dispensation Advisory Council on Social Intervention.

He said the council, chaired by him, was to coordinate and oversee the effective implementation of the various measures put in place to mitigate the current hardship experienced by ordinary and vulnerable Lagosians.

“The burden we shoulder, especially at this challenging period, calls for higher dedication, innovative strategies, a sense of urgency, and sacrifice as we weather the current economic downturn.

“Already, I have inaugurated a Special Dispensation Advisory Council on Social Intervention, which I chair, to coordinate and oversee the effective implementation of the various measures we have put in place to mitigate the current hardship experienced by ordinary and vulnerable Lagosians,” he said.

Regarding the parley, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that it stands as one of the enduring and significant legacies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying that it was a platform that had played a significant role in promoting mutual understanding and a harmonious relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government.

He said that the understanding and mutual respect brought about by this parley, without gainsaying, had been a key driver of the milestone achievements that successive administrations in the state had recorded.

Furthermore, the governor said the forum had also provided the opportunity for serving members of the executive and legislature “to benefit from the knowledge, experience, and wisdom of our leaders who are our forebears in public service and governance.”

“I wish to acknowledge the fact that both the executive under my watch and the legislature have continued to maintain an uncompromising posture in the pursuit of the vision of a greater Lagos which is fast on the rise. A major indication of this is the commitment by the Lagos State House of Assembly to the expeditious consideration and passage of the state’s annual budget estimate and other critical bills that require urgent consideration by the legislature.

“The dividends of this mutual understanding and collaboration from which our people are the direct beneficiaries are visible in the milestone projects, including the Blue and Red lines, the 32-metric-ton Imota Rice Mill, the food market hubs, and several social and physical infrastructures that are transforming the landscape of our state and improving the socio-economic conditions of all our people,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“There is no gainsaying that a lot still needs to be done to achieve the Greater Lagos of our dream and desire. The journey ahead, therefore, requires deeper commitment, focus, and collaboration for us to meet the expectations of Lagosians.

Also speaking, Fashola said sadly that democracy was increasingly dysfunctional around the world, with people getting amazed and querying if it was exactly what they signed off on.

The former minister, however, said that interaction like this was to make it work, pointing out that it was meant to build collaboration and serve as a forum for the party to know what its government was doing.

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“If you look around the world, democracy is increasingly dysfunctional. People are asking, is it what we signed off on?

“Interaction like this is to make it work. It is to build collaboration. It also provided a forum for the party to know what its Government is doing,” Fashola said.

Fashola observed that the work is far from being done especially at the National Assembly, noting that the campaign for special status for Lagos should be realized.

Furthermore, he called for the listing of the created local government now that the constitutional amendment was being considered.

This was just as he identified a big issue: how more money could be made available in the hands of the people “while we wait for the new minimum wage,” saying such a move “is to increase the quantum of money at their disposal.”

He also suggested meeting with small businesses, holding town hall meetings with them to ensure that they did not fold up.

The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said it was a thing of joy to see the elected and appointed members of the state sharing ideas for the betterment of the state.

Obasa, represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Noheem Adams, said it was crucial to understand the power of unity, noting that each individual had a role to play in shaping the future of the state.

“Our actions today are to shape the legacy for future generations. We should build bridges and act with cooperation. Our willingness to arrive at a common ground is paramount,” Obasa said.

In his welcome address, Special Adviser on Political, Legislative, and Civic Engagement, Dr. Afolabi Tajudeen, recalled that the Executive and Legislative Parley for nearly two decades stood as a cornerstone among the numerous programs of the Lagos State Government.

According to him, the parley serves as a collaborative platform for the Executive, Legislative, and party elite, saying it “fosters rapid sustainable development for our cherished state of Excellence.”

“Post the 2023 elections, the imperative is to transition to effective governance and address the populace’s yearning for the dividends of democracy.

“The synergy between the Executive and Legislature stands as a pivotal force behind Lagos’s monumental achievements, and the purpose of this Parley is to further strengthen that bond,” he said.