AMBODE’S HALF YEAR’S SCORE CARD

Rasak Musbau
In the past six months in office, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has given top priority to fiscal stability, economic growth, civic engagement, security, environmental sustainability, education and re-jiggering of the state public service. No doubt, it is now clear that Lagos has in Ambode, a governor who has a clear vision of moving the state forward who also believes firmly in adhering to all the principles of democracy.
Ambode appreciates that while it may be possible to duplicate masterpieces using technology, leadership episodes are often unique, making it difficult, if not impossible, to replicate in its entirety. He knows that leaders do not have the luxury of repeating a leadership episode; much less repeat a mistake, in order to (re)learn from it. This explains why he is anchoring his administration on instilling in the state’ public servants and the entire Lagosians positive culture and value that would yield long-term result and outlive his tenure. To him, love and compassion are not mere private virtues but a guide in managing people’s affairs prompting his promised in his inaugural speech to run a government that would make life easier and Lagosians happier.
To the enlightened and open-minded, the power of democracy is inherent in its propensity to openly allow issues to be critically analyzed before actions are implemented. As someone conversant with tenet of democracy, Ambode has so far used this as a guide with series of parley with stakeholders. This also informed his decision to begin a quarterly the town hall meeting across the three senatorial districts in the state. This initiative is as dictated by need for a new template of engagement. In any case, this is an era when it is imperative for government at all levels to listen to people and allow them to communicate their need. The first town hall meeting of the Ambode government at Abesan (Lagos West Senatorial District) and outcome/impact of the meeting attested that it was a bold and impactful move.
Now, six months on one of the most complex jobs in the land, Ambode has been able to weather the storm and confidently stay afloat the ship of the state. A successful governor is actually one who makes improvement that will outlast him. He is one who does not provide order and prosperity only for the brief period he is in office. He is one who makes decisions and investments that outlive generations. This is where Ambode stands tall.
On the economic front, in-spite of the nation’s dwindling economic fortune, Ambode has steadily ensured that the finances of the state are in good shape. He had from the onset “focus like a laser beam” on improving the state economy and establishing his administration’s capacity to work. This is quite instructive because it is only when the state finance is healthy that he would be able to execute his administration’s programmes of making Lagos work for all.
The state economy remains strong because of Ambode’s vast knowledge and experience in financial management. He planned the financial stability through implementation of creative ideas and concepts. His administration has restructured the public service for optimal performance through it has achieved reduction in the cost of running government by pragmatically blocking leakages and tightening up weak structures. Similarly, the state’s choking debt exposure has been restructured from 18% interest rate to 12.5%, thereby freeing N3bn every month for the state to put into other pressing use. The bold move of relocating government agencies on rented apartment with bogus yearly rent payment to the state secretariat is another shrewd move by the governor.

Making the establishment of Ministry of Wealth Creation one of the first step upon assumption of office also testified to his preparedness for the task. He created the new Ministry to target the SMEs, the artisans and the younger ones that really don’t have access to huge funding in the hope of generating employment, creating wealth, and boosting industrialisation. The ministry has now put in place an employment trust fund to finance young entrepreneurs where they can have access to low-interest loans that will enable them to recreate jobs. The logic in this is that the governor would have breached a gap once these youths are more or less engaged, because the ultimate goal for any growing economy is to create jobs and that is what the Wealth Creation Ministry intends to achieve. Similarly, in order to drive foreign investment into the state, Ambode created the Office of overseas Affairs and investment. This office is like a one-stop shop specifically meant to pay greater attention to businessmen, to investors (local or foreign) and any other person that is trying to start up any business. This has been put in place to re-energise the state economy.
In terms of staff welfare, Akinwunmi Ambode has an excellent grade as his government ensures that state workers’ salaries are promptly paid. He also has an excellent rating for payment of N11bn in pensions to those neglected since 2010. This was done at a time other states are finding it difficult to offset salaries even with federal government bailout. We can also recall the case of the defunct Eko Today newspaper’s ex-staff that have not been paid any benefit since 2003. Ambode has recently rescued them with sum of N37, 171,228.22 as pension, gratuity and severance pay packages.
The Ambode administration has established a new, infectious atmosphere of optimism with what he calls Operation Zero Tolerance for Pot Holes and has flagged off a remarkable initiative with Local Governments that will have 114 roads (two per each of the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas) constructed with standard drainages, walk-ways and street lights. In the last six months, over 280 roads have been rehabilitated with 189 others marked for repair. According to General Manager of Lagos State Works Corporation, the state government has also worked on 117 Federal Government roads.
To underscore the Ambode’s administration seriousness in ensuring the security of lives and property, the governor has just inaugurated some security equipment to rebrand and reposition the state’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS). The equipment handed over to RRS included three helicopters, two patrol boats, 100 motorcycles, 13 BM power bikes, 60 ford salon cars, 55 Ford Rangers, 40 Toyota Land cruiser SUVs, 31 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as well as police uniforms and other kits.
Without a doubt, Lagos is a difficult state to govern. Nevertheless, in the past six months, Ambode has demonstrated sufficient moral, intellectual, professional and political level-headedness to assure Lagosians that the state is in safe hands. He has continued to maintain and demonstrate his commitment to tackle the tough challenges of governing the state, working with relentless positive action to ensure the centre of excellence is moving forward for all Lagosians. With his hands steadily on the plough, the future could only get better.