The Senate on Wednesday rejected a bill on the floor of the House seeking the Federal Government to grant Lagos state preferential treatment as the economic nerve centre of the country.

The bill demanded that Lagos state should receive one per cent of the nation’s revenue.

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Oluremi Tinubu Senator while speaking said since Lagos is the commercial capital and business nerve centre of Nigeria, and as such, a special grant was not out of place.

Speaking on the bill, Senator Phillip Aduda (FCT) while supporting the bill requested that the FCT be given a similar status. He said that although the FCT had a Ministry, it still required special attention as it is over stretched.

Other senators also showed their support for the bill.

Chief Whip of the Senate, Olusola Adeyeye who supported the bill wondered why the FCT was being subsidised by the Federal Government while Lagos paid for the same services in taxes.

He argued that one per cent of revenue is not enough for Lagos State adding that a percentage of VAT generated in a State be given to the State.

He went further describing the FCT as “a rotten pampered child,” as tempers flared in the chamber, making the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, to ask Adeyeye to withdraw the statement, which he did.

After Adeyeye’s statement many senators staged a walk out, as the bill was rejected.

Oludolapo Adelana

Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.