A peep into Jimi Agbaje’s manifesto

Over the past 2 decades, the government of Lagos, managed by the same core of people, has collected nearly N5.0 trillion or US$26 billion in revenues and spent approximately N6.2 trillion or US$35 billion

huge budgetary allocation to the state in recent years, there was visibly lack of government investment in industries which would create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed residents of the state, promising to invest in the health sector, initiate an effective waste disposal mechanism and create jobs.

“Over the past 2 decades, the government of Lagos, managed by the same core of people, has collected nearly N5.0 trillion or US$26 billion in revenues and spent approximately N6.2 trillion or US$35 billion. Important question to ask is whether the outcomes generated by this level of expenditure as sustainably improved our State. Home to the 5th largest economy on the African continent, an economy that is bigger than those of Kenya and Ghana combined, can we truly say that Lagos is working?

“As a megacity, Lagos must rightly be compared with other megacities and important metropolitan areas around the world. Perhaps, the most telling of these comparisons shows Lagos has been and remains one of the worst cities to live in the world. Our city is presently ranked 138 of 140 global cities. Only Dhaka in Bangladesh, of the megacities, ranks worse than our dear city,” he said.

He further promised to build an egalitarian society where all sections of the indigenes would have equal opportunity and access to amenities irrespective of class, vowing to restore the lost glory of the state and invest in the youths.

“Improving the quality of life of our citizens will remain unattained if their access, irrespective of their socio-economic status, to adequate healthcare continues to be unmet. Universal Basic Health coverage through a wellstructured and financed health insurance scheme is a key priority for a PDP Administration, under my leadership, in Lagos.

“In keeping with my determination to afford our young every opportunity to forge a sustainable future, re-organising the system of public education provision at all levels is an imperative. For us, education is not about lucrative building and procurement contracts. It is about ensuring that the needs of parents, children, educators and all stakeholders are cost-effectively met. Lagos must attain a position of preeminence.”

According to him, “it is a matter of great shame that after twenty years of governance, the ruling party and its various re-incarnations are still unable to provide and implement a framework that ensures the continuous cleanliness of our State.

“The failure of the state, despite huge expense, to discharge a responsibility as basic as waste management belittles us at the same time as it endangers our collective health. That we are obliged to discuss how to organise waste management is testament to the retrogression of our State over the past two decades”.

“This campaign is about a new future for Lagos built by the entire community of Lagosians; I am clear about the key imperatives towards a brighter future for Lagos and the role of government therein.

“The government must serve to ensure the safety and security of residents and visitors alike as they pursue their legitimate ambitions. It is about enabling Lagosians and their guests identify opportunities and take advantage thereof,” he said.

Agbaje further promised to revolutionised health care system in the state, institute a structured insurance scheme and transform the education sector for all categories of indigenes of the state.

“Universal Basic Health coverage through a well-structured and financed health insurance scheme is a key priority for a PDP Administration, under my leadership, in Lagos. In keeping with my determination to afford our young every opportunity to forge a sustainable future, reorganising the system of public education provision at all levels is an imperative. For us, education is not about lucrative building and procurement contracts.

“As I solicit your support throughout this campaign, an administration in Lagos State under my leadership will be guided by the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: ‘ When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.’”