Lagos Lawmakers Want Fashola To Concentrate On Energy In 2013

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have advised the State Government to take advantage of the new policy of the Federal Government policy on power transmission.

The House thus urged the executive arm to set aside a substantial part of the 2013 Appropriation for the building and maintenance of facilities in the energy sector of the state.

The House further urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to create an opportunity for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to intensify liaison with relevant private investors in order to achieve efficient and sufficient electricity supply in the state.

The House passed this as a resolution that was brought before the House by some lawmakers led by Mrs Muhibat Rufai-Adeyemi representing Ojo Constituency 1 at the House.

Other lawmakers, who co-sponsored the resolution include the Deputy Speaker, Kolawole Taiwo, Sanai Agunbiade representing Ikorodu Constituency 1, Deputy Chief Whip, Rotimi Olowo, Bisi Yusuf representing Alimosho Constituency 1, Abiodun Tobun representing Epe Constituency 1 and Lanre Ogunyemi representing Ojo Constituency 2.

The lawmakers lamented the problems residents of the state as well as businesses face daily as a result of the power challenge bedevilling the country, adding that the problem had crippled socio-economic activities and had resulted in low productivity of citizens in the state.

While commending the state government over its efforts to produce alternative energy through conversion of solid waste as it agreed on at the recently concluded 2012 Energy Summit, lawmakers noted that the change in energy policy by the Federal Government through the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) which grants approval for state government to provide electricity for their states by reaching an agreement with the relevant distribution companies should be exploited fully by Lagos State.

By Eromosele Ebhomele

via P.M. NEWS Nigeria.

Labour appeals to striking Lagos doctors, govt to sink differences

LAGOS State Chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday, appealed to the striking doctors in Lagos public hospitals and the state government to immediately resolve their differences in the interest of the suffering patients and masses.

In their May Day speeches, leaders of NLC and TUC appealed to the doctors to consider the plight of those who could neither travel abroad for medical attention nor pay the high charges by private hospitals and call off the strike.

They lamented that the lingering industrial crisis between the government and doctors in the state public hospitals was unhealthy to the people of the the state and also thwarting the good health policy of the government.

Chairman, Lagos NLC, Mr. Idowu Adelakun, said: “We are also using this medium to appeal to the striking doctors to sheath their sword and allow for amicable resolution of this industrial crisis. As the saying goes ‘when two elephants fight the grass suffers’.

”Those at the receiving end in this crisis are your brothers and sisters, dying every day in our hospitals due to lack of medical attention as a result of this strike. Please, allow the milk of human kindness to flow and pity Lagosians, who cannot afford travelling abroad for medical attention or even pay the high medical charges by private hospitals.”

TUC Chairman, Akeem Kazeem, said: “ It is our belief that there is no problem without amicable resolution. The striking doctors and Lagos State Government must be ready to meet at the round table for dialogue to resolve the present industrial upheavals.

TUC is prepared to be part of the negotiation for an amicable settlement. In the interest of the good health of the good people of Lagos State. When conflict arises, it must be resolved with the understanding of sustaining industrial harmony, peace and justice.”

Meanwhile, the state government has concluded arrangements for the distribution of relief materials to victims of the February 13, rainstorm that led to loss of lives and destructions of property worth millions of naira in several communities in the state.

On the distribution of relief materials, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said Governor Babatunde Fashola had approved the disbursement of items as relief assistance to the victims in Ejigbo and Itire-Ikate local council development areas, who were affected by the wind storm which blew off their roofs and destroyed other valuables in the areas.

 

via Vanguard