Lagos 2015: Ambode releases manifesto, promises free education, N25billion Lagos Employment Trust Fund

Akinwunmi Ambode 

The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress [APC} in Lagos State has promised, if elected, to set up a four-year N25 billion trust fund to cater for unemployed people in the state. Akinwunmi Ambode said in his manifesto released Sunday that the Lagos Employment Trust Fund (LETF) would provide access a minimum of N1 billion naira annually for entrepreneurial ventures across the state’s five divisions of Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos and Epe. “We will protect the growth of small and medium scale enterprises by providing tax incentives,” said Mr. Ambode, a former Accountant-General of the state. “We will implement government policies that will encourage the private sector to employ more citizens and foster economic development. “We will boost internally generated revenue by improving the collection mechanism through e- governance. “We will encourage the creation of a Corporate Social Responsibility Trust Fund (CSR-TF) by the Private Sector, to be managed by a Board of Trustees charged with the responsibility of identifying growth opportunities yearly and financing such opportunities to further boost economic development across sectors and communities in the State.” Mr. Ambode, 51, emerged the APC’s governorship flag bearer last December, winning over 50 percent of delegates’ votes to defeat 12 other aspirants. In his manifesto, Mr. Ambode said he would introduce a round-the-clock economy typical of a city state like Lagos. In the area of security, the governorship candidate said he would continue with the state’s city lighting project by expanding the Independent Power Project. “In addition, our government will embark on the acquisition of the latest advanced security communications technology that will attack and monitor the daily activities of the State,” he said. For education, Mr. Ambode said his administration would provide free education up to senior secondary level, as well as provide one meal per day for students. “Along with our bursary and scholarship initiatives for tertiary institutions, we will encourage the private sector to partner with government in this regard as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.” Mr. Ambode said his housing plans would include a collaboration with the private sector and also improving the state’s current policy of home ownership through Lagos HOMS and provide ownership options, such as Rent-to-Own-Program (R.O.P). “We will introduce free medical care for our children from birth to age six. “Healthcare will also be free for pregnant women, including both pre-natal and ante-natal care, while our senior citizens will also enjoy free healthcare from sixty-five years onwards. “We will improve on the quality of Primary Healthcare system and make it more accessible, thereby reducing the overdependence on our general hospitals. We will activate emergency services in all our hospitals.” Mr. Ambode said he would open up the virtually untapped aquatic and seafood resources in the state and provide incentives for agricultural processing companies. “We will increase the avenues to showcase our distinct and diverse Lagos culture and traditions through the establishment of museums and heritage centers. “We will create water theme parks for our children and youths by utilizing our prominent natural resource in the State. “In order to make our State a tourism destination in Africa, we will also develop our waterfront by providing recreational facilities and encourage investors to invest more in tourism infrastructure.