The Lagos State Government has stated its determination to ensure that youths and artisans in the State are trained and meaningfully engaged in more reliable jobs that can guarantee them a planned and rewarding future.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat disclosed this while speaking on a Live TVC Programme “This Morning”, as part of activities marking the two-year anniversary of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration in the State.
Dr. Hamzat said, “We want to train people for a job that can last longer. I am not sure that our children want to ride okada for 30 years. I think it is better to have a well-structured job where you can be assured of income as a mechanic, plumber or whatever it is. That is why we have technical schools. That is where we want our children to go to have skills they can use later in life”.
The Deputy Governor disclosed that it has been observed that people are losing the pre-requisite skills that have always been there and taking to Okada riding, an action that is now affecting skill acquisition as the society is having a shortage of skilled and competent artisans.
He said, “For example, we are losing good mechanics, good tilers, good bricklayers, everybody now want to ride Okada. So, what happens to the need for good tilers, what happens to the need for good mechanics”.
Hamzat emphasised that it is time for citizens of the State to determine which direction to go, either to have a good artisan to help in fitting some of our faulty items when the need arises or allow all the skilled artisans to take to Okada riding.
Commenting on the State government’s activities to improve security in the last two years, the Deputy Governor stated that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration has done so much in assisting and ensuring that the security apparatus is well equipped, particularly the Police Force, adding that the State government has instituted an insurance scheme for security operatives to boost their morale.
He emphasised that the government will not relent in supporting and equipping the Police for a better and secured Lagos for the benefit of all.
On Education, he disclosed that Lagos has commissioned lots of infrastructure in schools and initiated new policies, noting that some of the completed projects include the construction of more than 49,000 classrooms and the introduction of the Eko Excel initiative to enhance teaching in primary schools in a bid to expose the teachers and students to modern methods of teaching and learning.
On the Joint Development Plan Commission between the Lagos and Ogun State Governments, Dr. Hamzat stressed that the two States intend to work together on issues relating to their boundaries and tax issues, pointing out that a lot of people live in Ogun and work in Lagos, hence there is a need for some form of understanding by the two state governments.
He added that the long-overdue cooperation between both States is necessary for development and improving the standards of living of their citizens.
On waste collection, the State Deputy Governor stated that the present administration is collaborating with market leaders on the best way of disposing of their waste without dumping them on the roads.
“The State Government is bringing in about 100 compactors of which 48 are already in the country and the challenges the State has with the PSP operators has been resolved. So, the PSP can now improve its service delivery across the Lagos metropolis” he said.
