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There was rowdy session at the Senate on Wednesday when a bill that sought to give one percent of the country’s annual revenue to Lagos State was rejected.
The proposal titled: “A Bill for an Act to make Provisions for Federal Grants to Lagos State in recognition of its strategic socio-economic significance” was sponsored by the senator representing Lagos Central, Oluremi Tinubu.
In her lead debate, Tinubu submitted that the grants would be used in meeting the public infrastructural needs of Lagos State.
The proposal allows the grants payable to be determined by the President and Commander in Chief on the recommendation of the Governor of Lagos State with the proviso that not less than 1 percent of the share of the revenue accruing to the Federal Government, would be given to the state.
She explained that as the economic nerve centre of Nigeria, the grant would be used in improving rail infrastructure, decongest roads and promotion of conducive social economic environment for federal institutions as well as increase the state’s capacity to continue to play host to international events in the state.
The bill also establishes a joint committee to host both the President and the Governor of Lagos State on an annual basis.
Citing Section 164 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) James Manager and Abdullahi Adamu kicked opposed the bill on the grounds that it was unconstitutional, while Phillip Aduda and Gershom Bassey said FCT and Calabar should also be given special treatment.
Plenary became rowdy after the Senate Chief Whip Sola Adeyeye suggested that 13 percent of the total money realised from Value Added Tax (VAT) be given to Lagos State.
He, however, irked senators after he described the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a ‘rotten pampered child’.
“Until we have fiscal federalism, Lagos will not work, Calabar will not work, the FCT will not work. By the way, the FCT is a rotten pampered child”, he declared.
Although the senator apologised for the comment, the bill was rejected after the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu put the question to voice vote three times and it was unanimously rejected.
It took the intervention of Ekweremadu who stood up from his seat calling for calm for more than five minutes before normalcy returned.
Other bills that passed First Reading include: National Archives Act (Amendment) Bill, Rights and Obligations under Tenancy Agreements (Regulations) for the Recovery of Premises in the Federal Capital Territory Bill, Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (Amendment) Bill, Animal Health and Husbandry Technologies Bill and Federal Capital Territory Water Board Bill.
