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The Senate continued the screening of ministerial nominees today, Wednesday. First to face the screening process was former Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN).
He addressed issues on Value Added Tax, security and the controversial N78 million website.
His words:
‘Our Work in Lagos was a Team Effort, I won’t appropriate personal responsibility for the Good Work’
‘Before we increase taxes, we must optimize the capacity to get that which is in the place.’
‘Online Technology is a very versatile tool for tax collection… moving to it would be important’.
“Government exists to protect citizens and their assets therefore criminals are my competitors”
‘Security remains the primary but toughest job a leader can have; It was a competition.’
“We are under policed based on statistics and my recommendation is decentralization”
‘My Knowledge of Abuja is not as deep as my knowledge of Lagos. I have lived in Lagos all my life’
‘We don’t borrow to pay Salaries or Buy Generators, We borrow for Capital Expenditures’
Fashola also made a case for state police. He said: “If we are afraid of abuse, start the State Police. Not every state should start if it can’t be funded”
On the N78million website controversy, he said:
I don’t sign cheques, I don’t sit in award of contracts. through out my tenure, I have never been involved in procurement.
Nobody can allege that I have incorrectly enriched myself.
On loyalty, he said: ‘I have remained loyal to causes I signed to. I stand by my word’