Lagos Has Done Well For Its Workforce Trade Union Congress
startups on patent-pending research initiatives; startups in sectors such as Agric-Tech, Health-Tech, Construction and Manufacturing among others.
According to Fahm, one of the major achievements of the Ministry in the period under review was the collaboration with the University of Lagos on the development of a low cost rapidly deployable ventilator (Ambuvent Ventilator) for the management of COVID-19 pandemic cases.
He disclosed that seven months into the tenure of the present administration, the Governor had announced a N250 Million seed fund to boost technological innovation and initiatives, in demonstration of the government’s commitment to developing Lagos into a 21st-century Digital Economy and Smart City. “Grants were awarded to successful applicants. The first set of beneficiaries selected to benefit from the Lagos State Seed Fund in the fields of Innovation, Research and STEM in August 2020, were Innovators and tech start-ups, who were empowered with N100M innovation grants, which was part of the N250M for Science and Technology related ideas and initiatives”, Fahm added.
He said that the initiative was in line with the ideals of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration, which includes fuelling technology-driven innovations to transform Lagos into a 21st-century smart city.
On the LASG Network Infrastructure project, Fahm said the LASG Campus Network upgrade was implemented with a State of the Art Wifi Network (Wifi-6 devices) and an FTTP end to end network, adding that the network upgrade connects thousands of computers from all MDAs within and around the Secretariat for egovernment operations.
“This was designed to increase efficiencies within the MDAs; make online meetings and deliberations a reality; enable flexible working patterns; enhance e-learning across campus; implementation of online staff audit and stabilising ICT environments for improved online collaborative solutions”, he said. On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Technology, Mr. Tunbosun Alake, revealed that the State also sponsored the participation of students to the Y2021Young Nigerian Scientist Presidential Award (774-YONSPA) among Secondary School Students across the country in the year under review.
“This is to boost the interest of students in Science and Technology (STEM Education) as well as to encourage and involve young children in designing Projects and Programmes that can resolve challenges in Infrastructure, Environment and Waste Management among others”, he stated.
Alake averred that the 2nd Edition of the ‘Art of Technology’ forum organised by the State Government with the theme “Smart Data, Smarter Lagos”, brought together the best of tech minds from across the globe physically and virtually on the 3rd and 4th of December 2020, with a conversation that centred on the fundamental role data plays in connecting the city with its citizens. He said the State also unveiled the Startup Lagos at the Conference, which is an initiative meant to empower Lagosians and encourage ITpreneurs as well as others to take advantage of the opportunities the State is offering to help businesses and entrepreneurs.
Nigeria - Days after May and Labour Day, the Lagos State Government has continued to receive praises for its commitment to the welfare of its workforce. Governor Sanwo-Olu has approved a Workers Village scheme for public servants, among other incentives.
The Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Abiodun Aladetan, who spoke on a TVC programme while reviewing the theme of this year’s celebration: COVID-19 social and economic crisis: Challenges for decent jobs and social protection as well as people’s welfare” was full of praises for Lagos State, which he described as “labourfriendly”.
Aladetan said on May Day, “The Governor graciously gave to us what would be known as Workers Village”, which labour had been pushing because of the effects of inflation, reduction in the value of the Naira, transportation costs etc. on the wages.
His words: “We approached the government to provide land and engage developers to build houses that are affordable for workers and the State Government graciously approved several hectares of land. In Ayobo, for example, the State Government gave us 8.8 hectares of land along Ayobo-Isefun Road for a workers village, strictly for civil servants.”
Aladetan said contributors to the National Housing Fund also got an additional approval of 10 hectares of land. The TUC Secretary said the gesture would make it possible to have about 2,000 housing units for civil servants on merit, aside from other benefits that accrue to workers. While noting that in the past, civil