The Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, speaking on Tuesday at a town hall meeting in Abesan, Lagos West Senatorial District, has said
that his administration has reduced the cost of governance in the state and
saved N3billion monthly in the first four months of his government.
This was the first edition of a quarterly town hall meeting
Gov. Ambode was holding since he was sworn in on May 29th as the third governor
of Lagos State since 1999. He disclosed that reducing the cost of governance was
achieved through the re-alignment of the state’s Ministries, Departments and
Agencies, MDAs and restructuring of government, and reiterated his
determination to be accountable for every revenue and expenditure of the state.
"This has provided us with more funds to inject into capital projects and the initial funds to establish the Employment Trust Fund which we promised our youths.
Today, a major landmark of our administration is the reduction in the cost of governance. We want a lean government with quality service delivery. Lagos State Government is proud to declare that it has consistently met its obligations, especially prompt payment of workers’ salaries without seeking any bailout from the Federal Government," Ambode said.
The governor also disclosed that his administration was
poised to stabilize Lagos State’s finances through financial re-engineering and
reviewing the state’s expenditure and revenue framework.
"We are presently reviewing our loans with our bankers with a view to restructuring them in order to free up funds for further infrastructural development," he said.
Speaking on the health sector, Gov. Ambode said that his
government had provided additional 20 Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulances
bringing the total number of the ambulances to 36 at a cost of N145.240 million
deployed in all the state’s ambulance points.
"We have also provided additional 26 Transport Ambulances at the cost of N257.4 million deployed across all our General Hospitals. We have created Ambulance Points across the States for easy access to our people. The ambulance service can be reached by calling the Toll-Free Line 112.
"Our administration in the last three months has installed 22 power generating sets ranging from 350 –500 KVA as additional back-up sets across all our General Hospitals at the cost of N270 million to ensure 24-hour power supply.
"In addition, 26 Mobile X-Ray machines, costing N519.656 million are being installed at all our general hospitals across the State. Similarly, we have granted approval for the recruitment of more paramedic staff and special medical coordinators to ensure 24 hours service in our health facilities."
Speaking on the proposed Lagos Medical Park, Gov. Ambode
said that expressions of interest had been received.
"We will enter the phase of the project soon and at the end of this, Lagos State will become a key destination for Medical Tourism. All these have been painstakingly done to create better access to health services for all Lagosians."
Source
NEWS
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