Sanwo-Olu Renews Call For Special Status For Lagos At Revenue Formula Review Hearing

Lagos state has renewed the call to be accorded a special status as the public hearing on the new revenue sharing formula began Monday.

At the opening of a two-day South-West Zonal Public hearing by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Lagos, Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State should be accorded special status in recognition of its huge financial commitments to infrastructure and provision of basic amenities for the increasing population of its residents, as well as its preeminent contribution to the national coffers.

Staying that a new revenue sharing formula among the three tiers of government is very straightforward, self-justifying and in no way controversial, he noted the review of the current revenue allocation formula is long overdue, as the prosperity of Lagos State directly or indirectly has its multiplying effect on the South-West region and the entire country as a whole.

The call for special recognition of Lagos state has been re-echoed at different fora and various levels and tiers of government, especially against the backdrop of the current economic situation of the country, the aftermath of the EndSARS protests a year ago, and the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, for which Lagos has been the national epicentre.

“Our demand is a sharing formula that is just, fair and equitable; reflecting the contribution of stakeholders to the common purse, and also one that enhances the capacity of state and local governments to deliver high-quality services and the full dividends of democracy to the greatest number of our people.

Lagos State is no doubt the nation’s commercial capital, and population centre. The level of funding required to service the State’s social and public infrastructure is so significant that it will be difficult for the State to bear the burden for much longer under the present arrangement.

“I should say that it will be unfair to expect the State to bear this heavy burden on its own. It is, therefore, necessary to give due consideration to all the variables that support our advocacy for a Special Status” started the Governor who stated that the call for a special status for Lagos is not a selfish proposition; but in the best interest of the country and all Nigerians, as Lagos accounts for about 20 per cent of the national GDP and about 10 per cent of the nation’s population.

Justifying the need for Lagos State to be accorded special status, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos is more than just another state in the Nigerian federation, noting that there is no tribe in the country that has no significant stake in Lagos State.

He said: “As the former capital of the country for 77 years (compared to the 28 years that Abuja has been the Federal Capital Territory), Nigeria’s largest metropolis still bears the heavy brunt of being home to all Nigerians; irrespective of age, class, gender, religious affiliation or tribe.

 

Several statistics show the number of people that comes into Lagos every day, to make the state their new home and in pursuit of personal dreams due to the opportunities the city-state seemingly possesses, and which brings additional responsibilities on the government.

Additionally, Lagos still harbours a huge number of federal establishments which could not be moved to Abuja. These include military cantonments and barracks, Police, Customs, Immigration, Civil Defence, Prisons, Road Safety and security/intelligence establishments.

Sanwo-Olu said these are part of the reasons for a special status for Lagos and by extension, a review of the Revenue Allocation Sharing Formula.”

The Governor also said that it will be unfair for Lagos State to be left alone to bear the burden of the massive destruction experienced by the State during the EndSARS protests hijacked by hoodlums and the COVID-19 pandemic without assistance from the Centre.

“This month marks one year after the massive destruction experienced by the State in the violence that accompanied the hijacking of the EndSARS protests. Public buildings were burnt down and historical infrastructure was destroyed.

COVID-19 pandemic is another issue that has once again, supported the justification for Lagos to be accorded the privilege of special status. As much as this affects the entire country, it is a fact that the degree of the havoc caused by this virus differs from State to State.

Lagos was the epicentre for this virus, the same way it was for the Ebola virus some years ago.

The management of these unforeseen occurrences comes with huge responsibilities and financial commitments on the part of the State Government,” the Governor said.