Former Chairperson of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru has been appointed by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the head of the Board of Trustees for the N25 billion State Employment Trust Fund (ETF), while Mr. Akintunde Oyebode is to serve as the executive secretary of the board.
Ambode, who spoke in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, explained that nine other persons will be approved to serve as members of the Board of Trustees of the ETF, which is geared towards addressing the challenge of youth unemployment as well as promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development in the state.
Other members of the Board include Mr. Dele Martins, Mrs. Bilikis Adebiyi-Abiola, Mr. Otto Orondaam, Mrs. Olufunmi Olatunde Daudu, Mr. Tunde Bank-Anthony and Mr. Michaell Popoola Ajayi.
Governor Ambode also approved for the Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mr. Tunde Durosinmi-Etti and his counterpart in Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi to be part of the Board.
The Employment Trust Fund, it would be recalled, was signed into law by Governor Ambode on Tuesday, according to him, was in line with keeping faith with the promise he made to the people during the electioneering campaign.
The Governor had expressed optimism that the Fund will address the challenge of unemployment and promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development, adding that an annual contribution of N6.25 billion will be injected into the Fund by the State Government for 4 years totaling N25 billion.
In a separate development, Governor Ambode, also inaugurated a new board of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, restated the commitment of his administration to deepen democracy and rule of law especially by carrying out periodic review of obsolete laws in the State to bring them in tune with current realities for relevance and effectiveness.
The Governor said such periodic review was important especially to his administration in achieving the goal of creating an enabling environment for investors, entrepreneurs and making Lagos globally competitive.
While alluding to the fact that all modern and civilized societies thrive on the qualities of laws which regulate and guide the actions of government, organizations, individuals and institutions, Governor Ambode charged members of the Commission to hit the ground running by expediting action on the creation of electronic portal that is aimed at providing access to laws of the State online from anywhere in the world.
“This is a major project which the new Board has a responsibility to deliver in record time. It is very vital to the success of our drive to attract investors to our State,” Governor Ambode said.
Chairman of the newly inaugurated board is Professor Gbolahan Ellias (SAN), while members are Dr. Omogbai Omo-Eboh, Mr. Demola Sadiq and Mrs. Tola Akinsanya. The Executive Secretary is Mrs. Ade Adeyemo.
Speaking earlier at the inauguration, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem said the past board was inaugurated on March 12, 2012, and was dissolved by Governor Ambode on June 15, 2015 in accordance with the provision of the law establishing the Commission as amended in 2012.
Responding, Professor Ellias, who spoke on behalf of other members, thanked Governor Ambode for the confidence reposed in them and assured that they would do all within the confines of the law to executive the mandate fearlessly and conscientiously.
