PDP carpets Fashola over 'Waste to Food' holiday programme

Opeyemi Adesina

The Lagos State People Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led Lagos State Government (LASG) for organising a "waste to food" holiday programme which encouraged teens to scavenge for plastic bottles in return for "food".

The Party submits that such programme in this State and at this time is barbaric, exploitative and extortionate.

A statement made available to newsmen and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Barr. Taofik Gani, the party said: "The act of involving Teens in the project exposes that the ACN is indeed a bourgeoisie and eccentric party where its governor can on one hand preach Social Services and the elimination of child labour, but actually encouraging the opposite by cajoling Teens into Labour. Teens were cajoled to gather plastic bottles of 5Kg in return for meal ticket!

The ACN is bereft of ideas. We have repeatedly said this.

“LAWMA is the Agency responsible for carting away waste in the state. The eateries, pure water factories and other waste producing factories pay LAWMA and LASG for the Service. The Lagos State Government presently realises over #48B monthly. The state is so buoyant and ought to exempt teens from the project.  As a matter of fact the state government ought to be organising free holiday coaching for the Teens and even pay them allowances to encourage them. A PDP Government in Lagos State will sponsor every holiday so much that no family would travel out of the State on holiday. Youths and Teens shall be given their rightful honours and not cajoled into embarrassing and degrading holiday job"

The party opines that the ACN led LASG should be ashamed to pride that teens participated in the project because it actually confirms abject poverty in the State inspite of the monumental revenues of the state.

“Consequently, the Party is demanding public apology from ACN led LASG for abusing the teens and contravening the Child Rights Law.

In a related development, the Lagos State PDP is calling for the immediate relocation of the Olusosun dumpsite at Ojota as the stench oozing out from the site may cause epidemic soon. "Such dumpsite should not be located within the City, Alas! Near the Governor's Office. We believe retaining the dumpsite there means there is a business interest being protected over and above the health of Lagosians," the party added.