Rowdy Session In Senate Over Special Grants For Lagos

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday voted against a bill seeking special status and federal grant for Lagos State. The bill sponsored by Oluremi Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress Senator representing Lagos Central, was rejected on Wednesday after failing a voice vote called by Ike Ekweremadu.

During the second reading of the bill, the Chief Whip, Sen. Olusola Adeyeye, one of those who supported the bill, had asked why the Federal Capital Territory was being subsidised by the Federal Government, whereas taxes were being paid for same government services in Lagos.

He also asked why some northern states which banned alcohol consumption were benefiting from the revenue from the VAT paid on alcohol consumed in Lagos.

After he described the FCT as “a rotten pampered child,” tempers flared in the chamber, making the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, to ask Adeyeye to withdraw the statement, which he did.

By then, several aggrieved lawmakers had risen up, while some headed for the door.

The bill, which sought to compel the Federal Government to recognise Lagos as the country’s commercial capital, which was entitled to one per cent of the nation’s revenue, was squashed by the lawmakers.