Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, has hinted of the possibility of introducing a Lagos Resident Identification Card as a follow-up to the national headcount billed to commence on Tuesday.
The governor, who spoke at the weekend while featuring on a special programme to sensitise residents of the state on the importance of being counted in the state, maintained that with the introduction of a special slip during the exercise, it would be less difficult using the database to launch the Resident Identification Card, which might also double as a Social Security Card.
Tinubu warned residents who intend to leave Lagos for their home states during the exercise of the dire consequences of their action, emphasising that census was meant to identify the number of people who live, work and earn their living in a particular place.
He said he expected President Olusegun Obasanjo to remain in Abuja for the headcount rather than Otta, Ogun State.
Said he: “Any place where you reside and earn a living is actually your home. Many people live and work in Lagos throughout the year and only travel to their hometowns for a few days during festive periods.
“If you live in Lagos but travel to be counted elsewhere, how can we plan, how can we get the resources to upgrade existing schools and build new ones? How can we obtain the much-needed funds to properly maintain and equip our health institutions and build new ones?”
He reiterated that a solid case for adequate funding for the state could only be made if all those resident in Lagos were counted in the state.
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