Socialist Party Call On Sanwo-Olu To Prioritize Improvement of Workers’ Wage, Living Conditions Of Lagosians

– DEMAND PROVISION OF SOCIAL AND BASIC AMENITIES

The Lagos Chapter of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has call on Governor Sanwo-Olu, APC-led administration to prioritize the welfare of Lagos State workers and improve the living standard of the general populace.

This was stated in a press statement issued and signed by Mr Rufus Olusesan, Chairman of Lagos State SPN on Tuesday.

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Recall, the Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, recently disclosed that the Lagos State Government has generated an astonishing N400 billion in the first half of this year. This revelation came to light during the 2024 Budget Consultative Forum, where Mr. George expressed confidence in the state’s ability to meet its end-of-year target.

While the Lagos State Government initially estimated an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N924.805 billion to finance its N1.768 trillion 2023 budget, Mr. George stressed the necessity of increasing the IGR target for 2024 to provide more essential services to the people of Lagos. He underscored the state’s strong credit rating and robust IGR as indicators of its potential to attract investments and funding, including through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

The SPN press statement partly read, “The Lagos Chapter of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) is concerned about the equitable distribution and utilization of these funds to benefit the ordinary people of Lagos who have been grappling with severe economic hardship.

“We call upon the government of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, APC-led administration to prioritize the welfare of Lagos State workers and the general populace. It is imperative that the IGR be channeled towards improving the lives of the people and addressing pressing concerns such as the deplorable state of roads across Lagos State. Furthermore, we express our dismay at the grossly inadequate provision of palliatives in Lagos State despite the growing poverty occasioned by the subsidy removal and devaluation of Naira.

“The SPN strongly believes that with democratic management and control of public finances and funding, involving the democratic participation of workers and the public, mismanagement and looting of public funds will be checkmated. This is in order to guarantee the provision of more basic amenities as well as improvement in working and living standard of Lagosians. It could also ensure that public funds are transparently invested in job creation and employment opportunities for youths.

“In conclusion, we again demand that this revenue serves the interests of the people and not go to the pocket of the ruling corrupt politicians.”