Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday advocated for special status for the state, adding that the state has multiplying effects on the Southwest region and the country.
The governor made the request at the opening of a two-day Southwest zonal public hearing on the review of revenue allocation formula organised by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the revenue sharing formula should be 34 per cent for Federal Government, including one perc ent for Federal Capital Territory (FCT); 42 per cent for states; 23 per cent for local government areas and one per cent for Lagos State (Special Status).
He said the proposal should replace the prevailing revenue allocation formula of 52.68 per cent (Federal Government), 26.72 per cent (36 state governments) and 20.60 per cent (774 local government areas).
In a memorandum on the Review of Revenue Allocation Formula he submitted to the RMAFC, Sanwo-Olu declared that “allocating one per cent (Special Status) for the state and allowing the three tiers of government to share 99 per cent in a new revenue sharing formula is very straightforward, self-justifying and in no way controversial”.
The governor argued the review of the revenue allocation formula was long overdue, stating the best way to guarantee national progress and development is by paying attention to sub-national development because the national is a summation and a reflection of the sub-national.
His words: “Our demand is a sharing formula that is just, fair and equitable; reflecting the contribution of stakeholders to the common purse; and also one that enhances the capacity of state and local governments to deliver high-quality services and the full dividends of democracy to the greatest number of our people.
“Lagos State is no doubt the nation’s commercial capital, and population center. The level of funding required to service the State’s social and public infrastructure is so significant that it will be difficult for the State to bear the burden for much longer under the present arrangement.
“I should say that it will actually be unfair to expect the state to bear this heavy burden on its own. It is therefore necessary to give due consideration to all the variables that support our advocacy for a special status.”
