The Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Engr. Tayo, Bamgbose-Martins has said that the State Government would soon commence the review process for the issuance of State of Origin documents to individuals, just as specific steps will be mapped out to follow due process before the documents are given to anyone.
Mr Bamgbose-Martins made this known during a meeting with the members of the Federal Character Commission in his office at Alausa, Ikeja, called on those who issue letters of indigeneship to non- indigenes to desist from such untoward acts, as it is a disadvantage to the real indigenes of the State.
According to him there have been verified reports that non-indigenes procure State of Origin documents from different unauthorised sources in Lagos, sometimes at the Local Government level and some traditional rulers as attested to by the Federal Character Commission.
The Commissioner however assured that, henceforth, the Ministry will work more closely with the Federal Character Commission to appropriately address the issue and ensure that indigenes of Lagos State are no longer deprived of their place in Federal appointments and placements.
Earlier, the Commissioner representing Lagos State at the Federal Character Commission, Alhaji Abdul Wasiu Bawa-Allah, stated that the focal point of the meeting was to strengthen the collaborative efforts of the State and Federal Governments so that indigenes of Lagos State have equal representation they deserve for federal appointments.
He stated that the survey carried out by the Commission indicated that most of the candidates, who presented State of Origin documents during recruitment, are non-indigenes of Lagos State but had procured such documents from dubious sources, hence, there is a need to call the attention of the State Government to it.
Alhaji Bawa-Allah maintained that the Commission will no longer accept documents that do not emanate from the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, adding that Traditional Rulers and Local Government authorities who issue such documents should be duly informed and educated on the implications of such actions.
Oladele Adekunle
