The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress, to shelve its planned nationwide strike protest against fuel subsidy removal.
This is as he reassured residents that his second term will focus more on all-inclusive government through the THEMES plus agenda.
Sanwo-Olu who spoke at the sideline of the second term inauguration thanksgiving service held for him and his deputy, Deputy Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, said the planned strike won’t resolve the issues of subsidy removal and accompanying hike in prices of pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, known better as petrol.
The governor said, “Strike will not resolve anything; it won’t address the issue. The point should be how to ensure a sustained turnaround in our economy.
“The president mentioned better wages, and we started that in Lagos in January, and I hope other states can key into it. We don’t need to wait for the national government, we just need to reflect on what the challenges are in the country and seek ways to resolve them.
“So I plead with the NLC to not turn the subsidy issue into a political one. The leadership should know they are leading people and so there is a need to restrain themselves.
“Let us be patient and work with the president. NNPC has said it has more than enough fuel to go around, so there is no need to heat the polity.”
Speaking earlier, Sanwo-Olu said the thanksgiving service was important to acknowledge God’s help to individuals, Lagos State and Nigeria, as well as committing the second term of his administration into God’s hand.
He said: “We started by thanking God on Friday at our various divisional mosques and today we are here at church to continue to acknowledge the Almighty God who has helped us as a state and nation. We also want to commit the beginning of our second tenure to ask God for directions and to put everything in front of Almighty God.
“It will certainly be a second term that Lagosians should expect a lot more from us. What we have promised is a THEMES+ agenda which is human-centric. It is an agenda that takes into account everything in THEMES agenda and adds a bigger flavour to it- a plus component, which itself will ensure that no one is left behind.
“We have learned from the last four years and we want to build a better inclusive governance in which not only will we be doing a lot of hard infrastructure but will also want to do a lot of soft infrastructure since that will touch the lives of our people directly; specifically palliatives that will bring succour and better relief for our citizens even in a difficult time with global economic issues.
“Our citizens need to understand that though the government cannot do everything, we need to be able to bring them out of poverty and speak to what their needs are. So it is a purposeful human-centric agenda that will ensure that no one, no gender, no tribe or religion will be left behind. And we are holding ourselves accountable to that.”
In his sermon on ‘Unity: Catalyst for Godly Possibilities’, the Provost of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Very Revd. Dr. Adebola Ojofeitimi, urged the people to remain united so that things can work effectively.
He urged Lagosians to embrace and work for the unity of Lagos State and Nigeria. This, the Provost said, would help to build a vibrant state and country for the collective good of all.
The cleric said it was through unity that Lagos was able to witness monumental achievements which included the rail projects and robust transportation system in the state among other developmental growth in the first term of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
He said: “In Lagos, we have noticed progress because we are united. In Lagos, we have peace because we are united. The last state executive council worked with the Governor and that is why we can celebrate a lot of achievements in Lagos State.
“Let us work for the unity of the Church of Christ, Lagos State and Nigeria. We must work for our collective good. Let us come together to build the Church of Christ, Lagos State and Nigeria.”
