Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), stated that there is no reason for anyone to instigate protests in the state, given the government’s achievements.
Speaking on Tuesday in Ikeja during a meeting with the Secretaries to the Local Governments (SLGs), Salu-Hundeyin highlighted the significant progress made by the state government. “It is a legitimate right for citizens to protest, but it must not turn violent and destructive. Lagos State has done so much for its citizens that nobody in the state should stand up and say they are going to break anything,” she said.
Salu-Hundeyin emphasized that her views were genuine and not influenced by her position. “For the nascent peace we are enjoying in Nigeria now, the development that we are seeing, particularly in Lagos State, we do not want anything to tamper with all that Lagos State is enjoying,” she added.
She noted that Lagos State was ahead of the Federal Government in implementing the N70,000 minimum wage and is the only state not owing pensioners. Additionally, the state has made strides in various sectors, including the Ilera Eko Medical Insurance Scheme, building a medical university, enhancing transportation, and engaging youth.
The meeting with the SLGs aimed to ensure that the state’s developmental initiatives reach the grassroots. “We just try to compare notes and be sure that whatever Mr. Governor is doing under the THEMES+ Developmental Agenda is getting to the grassroots,” Salu-Hundeyin explained.
Discussing the concerns around protests, she said, “The secretaries are a bit worried; we discussed the protest as parents, not that anybody wants to bring out a stick to beat anybody, but as parents, what can we do if these are their grievances?”
Mr. Akeem Dauda, Chairman of Scribe 57, also deemed the planned protest unnecessary, given the state’s efforts. He mentioned that secretaries had resolved to engage the youth in their local governments to address their concerns. “We have resolved that we will go back home, talk to our children, talk to our brothers, for them to also look at it from another angle,” Dauda said.
He urged the youth to protect and not destroy the country.
