LASG PLANS BETTER DEAL FOR ARTISANS AND TRADESMEN

Lagos State Government has said that it will continue to explore every opportunity within its means to ensure that the businesses of tradesmen and artisans are given the right impetus that would lead to a boom of economic activities in the State.

Speaking at an interactive session with tradesmen and artisans in Ikeja, recently, the State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Pharmacist (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile Yussuf, underscored the need for artisans to key into the various ongoing reforms in the State to guarantee a win-win situation for both the government and the traders.

According to her, the government recognises the indispensable role being played by the sector, saying that the recognition made it compelling for government to periodically engage the group to know their needs and identify ways of addressing them.

“Governor Ambode wants to feel your needs. Although a lot has been done for Lagos State Council for Tradesmen and Artisans (LASCOTA) the Governor, knowing that the needs of the artisan are numerous, considered this stakeholders engagement necessary”, she stated.

Speaking specifically on the reviewed Land Use Charge, Akinbile-Yussuf maintained that the State government meant well for the masses, urging the participants at the session not to join the bandwagon of misinformed members of the public who are having wrong notions about the intentions of the State government on the reviewed law.

In her words, “It is a fact that a lot has been done in the area of infrastructural renewal by this present administration, but a lot more still needs to be done in that aspect by the government considering the increasing needs and population of residents of the State on a daily basis”.

“The State Governor heard the outcry of the people vis-a-vis the economic situation of the country and consequently reduced the land use charge by a reasonable percentage. With this reduction, there is no way the residents should not support this government”, the Commissioner explained.

She encouraged LASCOTA to key into the various programmes of the State government in the area of wealth creation and employment, stressing that what the government has in stock for them is far beyond what they have experienced in the past.

The President of LASCOTA, Alhaji Nurudeen Buhari said that the forum presented an avenue for the group to show appreciation to the State Government for the assistance received from the present administration so far.

“The Governor has really done a lot for us, the government had assisted our members to have a compendium thereby making more buyers and service seekers aware of the activities of our members” he added.

In addition to this, a virtual market was created for LASCOTA members with the Government promising to give us subventions and also continue to train and retrain our members.