Lagos Assembly confirms Phillips as LASIEC boss

THE Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday at a plenary confirmed the appointment of the immediate past Chief Judge, Justice (Mrs.) Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips, as chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

She was confirmed after a screening session at the plenary. Her name was submitted by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode through a letter sent to the House few weeks ago.

The Clerk of the House, Mr. Sanni Azeez, was subsequently ordered to communicate the confirmation of the appointment of Phillips to the governor through a letter.

Phillips, who was invited to the House to defend her nomination, said she was prepared for the job and that this would halt her retirement, which she had enjoyed for some time now.

She added that she was ready to serve the state.

Some of the lawmakers, who contributed during her appearance, observed that she served the state meritoriously during her tenure as the chief judge.

The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, told Phillips that the job would require her to go round the state, unlike when she was a chief judge.

“You will now need to visit all the local governments in the state during the registration for the election and during the election proper. You must be ready to do the job as required so that we could have a free and fair election. We count on you since you were successful during your tenure as the chief judge,” he said.

Answering questions from the Speaker if it was possible to start speaking Yoruba Language in courts in the state, Philips said this would be impossible as some of the people who come to the courts would not understand the language.

“Some of the people, who come to the court do not understand Yoruba Language and when you start speaking Yoruba in the court, it would be a ground for appeal for someone, who does not understand Yoruba Language,” she said.

Also yesterday, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode approved the immediate dissolution of the caretaker committees of the 57 Local Governments Councils and Local Council Development Areas.

It followed the resolution of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, the governor directed the executive secretaries to hand over the reins of administration to the head of administration in each of the council areas.

The dissolution of the caretaker committees is preparatory to the holding of elections into the council areas.

The Assembly had directed Ambode to dissolve the caretaker committees of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development council areas.

The lawmakers gave the governor the go ahead to appoint sole administrators to run the councils.