April 27, 2018

The Lagos State Government on Friday emphasised the need for residents to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC).
The Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr Benjamin Olabinjo, at the ongoing Ministerial briefing on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s third year in office in Alausa, also decried the number of uncollected PVCs in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lagos State has the highest number of uncollected PVCs, with no fewer than 1.4 million yet to be collected by residents.
“Let me emphasise here that to remain apathetic to this exercise is a self-denial of the inalienable right to vote for candidates of your choice when it is time to do so.
“I want to seize this opportunity to enjoin those who have yet to register to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to do so now.
“It is important for all adults of voting age to participate in the political process that will produce those that will be at the helm of affairs in the polity,” Olabinjo said.
He said that the office would continue to intensify efforts at enlightening residents to seize the opportunity of the ongoing CVR to obtain their PVCs.
According to him, the enlightenment would particularly be for those who have attained voting age and others who have relocated from their previous abode.
He also said that in the course of the year, the office would ensure enlightenment of residents on the need for peaceful electioneering in the state.
Olabinjo said that in the last three years, the office had engendered cordial working relationship between the legislative and the executive arms of government.
The special adviser said that 27 bills passed by the House Assembly were assented to by Gov. Ambode during the period under review.
He said the office simplified and translated eight laws into Pidgin, Yoruba and Egun languages, to facilitate easy understanding and voluntary compliance.
Olabinjo, who said the office was in the process of embarking on sensitising residents on more laws of the state, promised that other bills would also be looked into for translation and simplification.
“Let me use this opportunity to enjoin all to always respect public laws so as to maintain peace and order in the state,” he said.
Olabinjo said the office attended to 119 issues arising from petitions and complaints from individuals, groups and communities.
In support of the needy, Olabinjo said that N254.750 million was disbursed to 2,046 beneficiaries by the office in the last three years.
He said that 108 communities were engaged while their requests include provision of facilities such as roads,street lights, drainage, health centres and schools.