Fashola Signs Lagos residents' registration bill into law

Fashola Signs Lagos residents' registration bill into law
Abdul Semiu Babalola, Lagos

Two bills that will have significant impact on the socio-economic development of Lagos State in South West Nigeria have been signed into Law.

Governor Babatunde Fashola while signing the bills into Law described it as the most revolutionary piece of Legislation that Lagos State Government and the lawmakers had put together to transform the aquatic state.

Presenting the bill before its signing, the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Ajibayo Adeyeye said it went through the processes of the Assembly.

Bill's objective

According to him, “the Objective of this bill is to establish the resident Registration Agency which will provide a reliable data for the purpose of planning and good governance in Lagos State.”

He said the Agency would be empowered to provide a reliable data base to inform government about information on health, security, financial activities and demographic statistics of residents.

At the commencement of the new law, every resident is expected within three months to approach the Agency for registration.” Every resident of the state is expected within thirty days of moving into a long term accommodation to register with the Agency”, the lawmaker added.

The law also places responsibilities on the Agency to ensure that they have infrastructure in all Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas so that residents can find it easy to register.

The Agency is also empowered to issue certificate of registration to residents of the city.

It also enjoined the Community Development Association (CDA’s) to mobilise residents to register in the state. Landlords in the state are to persuade their tenants to ensure that they register with the Agency.

Governor Fashola noted that the law in its implementation will also help deal with issues of security.

He said: “First of all, it will help us keep good records as every resident will now have his card a unique identity number that he will keep for life. In this state no two number will be the same. So that we are able to keep data and with data, we have information and with information, your government has power to truly respond to your needs”.

He pointed out that in some advanced economies people actually show up to register themselves once they get into the system .They do so either by going to sign up to get driver’s license by which they can get a credit card.

“So we want people to come into the Lagos economy, there is room in the Lagos economy and we want you to do this by getting a resident registration card. The value of registration, the benefit that the registration will bring in terms of provision of amenities, security and protection of businesses is enormous” Governor Fashola added.

Already the pilot scheme has commenced with the registration of the public servants. With the law now in place, the agency will need to go out to sensitize the people on its value.

There is however growing concerns about the motive of the government. Many are of the views that the people will now be forced to pay more taxes. But the Governor dismissed such claims.

He said: ”I have heard during the public hearing that this was about tax, nothing could be further from truths, and this is about planning and preparations. So that we are responsible for a number of people who need our services, where they are and what their identities are, to ensure that we provide for them.”

Second bill

The second bill signed into law by the Governor provides for the preservation, protection and restoration of historic properties and cultural heritage sites in Lagos.

It categories historical sites into three categories. The law gives the Governor prerogative to give consents to anybody or organizations to alter these sites that have been listed.

The law also allowed the Governor to empower the Commissioner in charge of Tourism to give order on the sites. Some of the criteria used in categorizing the listed sites are, Architecture of that sites, the age of the sites and the history behind the sites.

These sites include, Tinubu Square, the Round House, Governor’s residence Marina, National Arts Theatre, the first site of pipe borne water, Massey Hospital, the last points of no return and the first storey building in Badagary, among others.

Williams