The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adeyemi Ikuforiji

  • LASU crisis: We’ll put an end to violence, says Ikuforiji

    LASU crisis: We’ll put an end to violence, says Ikuforiji

    •Lawmakers assess damage

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has vowed to end the violent crisis in the Lagos State University (LASU).

    Speaking yesterday at LASU Ojo campus during an on- the- spot assessment of the damage in the institution during the violence last Thursday, the Speaker assured the incident would never repeat itself.

    Ikuforiji, who described the damage done to the administrative block of the school as scary, said it was the grace of God that saved the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Obafunwa and his team from the protesting students.

    He promised that the panel of inquiry the House plans set up would investigate the incident and come up with recommendations.

    The Speaker said: “We are close to seeing the end of crisis in LASU. The last few years have been better than the previous decades.

    “There have been tremendous improvements in LASU. If the right thing is done, we will leave scandalous events behind in LASU.”

    Ikuforiji promised that the House would ensure necessary repairs are carried out in the school and Governor Raji Fashola would be contacted on the matter.

    He expressed fears over the damage done to the office of the VC, especially the vital academic documents destroyed, adding that efforts would be made to re-open the school soon.

    Ikuforiji, however, said that the issue of hostel accommodation for the students would be considered.

    “The purpose of not having hostels in the campus has been defeated. We have told the VC to consider PPP arrangement for the hostels.

    “We are sure hoodlums aggravated the violence, but with hostel accommodation, the students would have been curtailed and it would have been difficult for the hoodlums to infiltrate them,” he said.

    The Speaker and other lawmakers were taken round the areas affected by the incident by the VC and other management staff.

    They were dumbfounded by the damaged vehicles belonging to the VC and another management staff as well as the extent of damage at the administrative block.

    Some students had last Thursday protested over the refusal of the school’s management to open its portal for students who had paid their school fees but had not registered before the exams slated to start on the same day.

    The House subsequently summoned the school’s management, led by the VC and the Students Union Government of the school led by Miss Mojirade Hassan last Friday over the issue.

    After listening to both sides for hours, the House condemned the students for their actions and pleaded with the management to open the portal for two days to give those who were yet to register a last chance.

    The Speaker, who read the resolution, warned that such an issue would not be entertained next time and promised to raise a panel of inquiry on the matter.

     

  • Lagos Assembly passes consumer protection law

    Lagos Assembly passes consumer protection law

    A bill to protect consumers’ rights was yesterday passed into law by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    It was passed into law after the third reading and will be sent to Governor Babatunde Fashola for assent.

    The bill, sponsored by the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has been in the works in the House since the Fifth Assembly.

    It is tagged: “Law to establish the consumer protection agency, provide for the protection of the interest of consumers, settlement of consumers disputes and for connected purposes.”

    It will protect the right of consumers against the marketing of goods and services hazardous to life and seek redress against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers.

    Ikuforiji thanked the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Public complaints and Petition, Sanai Agunbiade, for his “diligent work” on the bill.

    He said: “I thank Agunbiade because for the first time in the country’s history, we have a law protecting consumers.

    “The executive and some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) made useful input to the bill. I thank everybody and once again, Agunbiade congratulations.”

  • More than 50% vehicles not road worthy, says FRSC

    More than 50% vehicles not road worthy, says FRSC

    • Inaugurates Lagos Speaker, legislators as special marshals

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed that not less than 50 percent of vehicles in the country are not road worthy.

    The commission also alleged that high-calibre individuals have been frustrating its operations.

    The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Osita Chidoka, disclosed these during the inauguration of the Lagos State House of Assembly Unit of Special Marshals at the weekend.

    Chidoka, who was represented by Assistant Corps Marshal, Victor Nwokolo, noted that the induction of the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and all other members of the House as Special Marshals would assist in road safety campaign.

    He said: “The Lagos State House of Assembly Unit among others is tasked to ensure cordial legislation on Road Safety Matters in the state to improve Regulatory and Enforcement capacity of FRSC.

    “This will ensure adequate protection of all the cadres of Road users and instill discipline as road traffic violators are conmensurately punished.”

    He explained that the non-uniformed arm of FRSC was created alongside the uniformed one on 18th February 1988, which was amended by decree 35 of 1992.

    It was later re-enacted as FRSC (Establishment Act) 2007.

    The Special Marshals, he said, are “volunteer men and women of proven integrity with legitimate sources of livelihood in the society and people who have the interest of serving their fatherland.”

    The Lagos Sector Commander, Chidi Ebere, told the teeming audience that highly-placed Nigerians are frustrating efforts to make the roads safe.

    He said: “Whenever any of our officers try to enforce regulation especially if it had to be “those high calibres, they just wind down the glasses and muttered ‘what is your problem.”

    Ikuforiji promised that the Lagos Assembly Unit of Special Marshals will strive to be the best by embarking on training, workshops and enlightenment campaigns.

     

  • Lagos community protests demolition of 10,500 houses

    Lagos community protests demolition of 10,500 houses

    A group of protesters from Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Badagry yesterday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest the demolition of not less than 10,500 houses.

    The residents, who were chanting anti-government songs, stated they had resolved to go on hunger strike and stay at the Assembly until their demands were met.

    They came bearing placards with different inscriptions like, “Our governor is a SAN but he is taking laws into his hand”; “We are paying our annual due\levy to the state government”; “Is this the dividend of democracy?; “Why do we have to suffer in our dear  fatherland” and “Common man has no right to co-exist in Nigeria”.

    Their spokesman, who is the chairman of one of the communities, Adu Charles, disclosed that the letter sent to the residents notifying them of the demolition exercise affected Agemuwo and Agalato communities.

    They wondered why Muwo Phase II, Araromi Ale and Atiporomeh communities, which were not part of the listed communities in the notice sent to the area, were affected.

    Charles, who was lamenting the debris their houses have turned to, noted that they have been subjected to homeless people as the displaced now stay in churches and mosques.

    He alleged that the matter, which has been in court since 2008, has been hijacked by the police, adding that 250 policemen invaded the community in December 14 to pull down their houses.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Publicity and Security, Segun Olulade, who represented the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, commended the protesters for being peaceful.

    He said: “l want to assure you that this House will swing into action and investigate the matter to a logical conclusion by the grace of God. We are not a government that desires joy in inflicting pains on those we serve.”

  • No rift with executive, says Lagos Assembly

    No rift with executive, says Lagos Assembly

    There is no rift between the legislature and the executive in Lagos State, the House of Assembly said yesterday.

    The clarification followed allegations of in-fighting between the two arms , which has reportedly caused a delay in the passage of the 2014 Appropriation Bill.

    The House, at its late plenary on Monday, said the delay was to allow thorough work on the proposed budget.

    Govenor Babatunde Fashola has sought the re-ordering of the budget proposal to accommodate an additional N500 million overhead cost in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

    The governor, in his letter to the House, stated that the additional sum should be deducted from N2 billion earlier budgeted for the general overhead in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

    The Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, explained that the business of the House was to make laws for good governance, one of which is the budget.

    “We have to look into it as thoroughly as we can, while maintaining a cordial relationship with the executive.

    “Our governor presented the budget earlier than other states but of course, his is also the most sophisticated compared to other states.

    “So, the House has been made to look at it in all ramifications.

    “I assure Lagosians that there is no problem between the executive and legislative. We are doing our job as we are supposed to,” Ikuforiji said.

    The speaker also reassured Lagosians that the budget would be passed in due course. “In a few days, it will be over,” he said.

    Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning Mudasiru Obasa said all outstanding documents from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been submitted to the committee and the budget report is due for presentation at the next sitting.

    He said: “I make bold to say that there is no friction whatsoever between us and the executive.

    “We have a good relation with the executive but not to the detriment of the independence of this House,” Obasa said.

  • Ikuforiji’s trial adjourned

    Ikuforiji’s trial adjourned

    Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned the trial of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

    This was to enable his new lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), study the case file.

    Olanipekun, a former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) president, took many by surprise when he announced his appearance as Ikuforiji’s lawyer.

    The speaker was previously represented by Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), who was absent yesterday.

    The matter was slated for continuation of trial, but Olanipekun prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file as he had just been briefed.

    He said: “I have just been briefed, and a mountain of documents was passed to me this morning. A criminal matter is a serious business and should be handled with every sense of responsibility.

    “I have no alternative than to soberly appeal to your Lordship to grant me an adjournment so that I’ll study the file to see how to assist the course of justice as a newly brought-in counsel. This is my humble prayer.”

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) did not object to Olanipekun’s request.

    Mr Tunde Akinrimisi, who represented Ikuforji’s Personal Assistant Oyebode Atoyebi, charged with Ikuforiji, also did not object to the application.

    Justice Buba, who marked his 10th anniversary as a judge of the court yesterday, vacated previous dates slated for trial and adjourned till March 17 and 18 for continuation of hearing.

    EFCC had re-arraigned Ikuforiji and Atoyebi on an amended charge of money laundering, to which they pleaded not guilty.

  • Ikuforiji congratulates Nigerians

    Ikuforiji congratulates Nigerians

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji has congratulated Nigerians for seeing the dawn of 2014.

    In his New Year message by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Adebayo, the Speaker said: “It is a great privilege and joy for me, on behalf of my family, fellow legislators at the Seventh Lagos Assembly and the management and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly, to rejoice with all Lagosians (and indeed all Nigerians, who are represented in our megacity), for being kept alive by God to witness yet another New Year, 2014.

    “Considering the enormous challenges and pains that we have faced since our return to democratic rule in 1999, Nigerians deserve special commendations for keeping faith with governments at all levels.

    “It is indeed amazing that Nigerians have been gallant in their resolve to see the country through to the Promised Land.”

  • Ikuforiji advises youths

    Ikuforiji advises youths

    LAGOS State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has urged youths to participate in partisan politics to become effective agents of change.

    Ikuforiji gave the advice at the 2013 end-of-year dinner organised by World Changers International (WCI), a youth-based non-governmental organisation, at Ikeja, the state capital.

    He said: “Leaders that left indelible marks on the sands of time charted their life-changing course in their youthful days. It got them no applause at the time because the courses were not designed to please the gallery.

    “Obama’s audacity of hope was a youthful imagination; Gandhi’s propagation of peaceful protest was nurtured in his youthful days; Mandela’s anti-apartheid stance was a youthful zeal; the Ruler of the United Arab Emirates had a vision in his youth, and Dubai was created from nothing. They all have two things in common: they had the quest for positive change; they also took full advantage of the opportunity to make a change.”

    The Speaker said it would be shameful for youths to sit on the fence in the election of Nigeria’s political leadership in 2015, stating that “currently, the youth have surrendered the bulk of our political space to the dishonourable, the incompetent and worse, to the criminally-minded.”

    The group’s president, Mr Tim Ayoola Abiodun, who lamented the non-involvement of youths in key decision-making organs in the country, noted that the programme was organised to provide a platform for youths to interact with political and business leaders.

    “WCI is an organisation with passion for youth empowerment and development. We have a lot to learn from our leaders to be more active economically, socially and politically,” Abiodun stated.

  • MDAs stall passage of Lagos 2014 bill

    The passage of the Lagos State 2014 budget was stalled yesterday on the floor of the House of Assembly by the failure of 10 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to provide the Committee on Budget and Appropriation with required documents.

    The MDAs are Eko Project, Lagos State Building and Construction Agency (LABCA), Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Metropolitan Development Agency (LMDA), Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lottery Board.

    Majority of the lawmakers condemned the MDAs’ attitude.

    The Chief Whip, Abdulrazaq Balogun, said the MDAss “deliberately refused” to supply the necessary documents and should be compelled to do so.

    The Deputy Whip, Rotimi Abiru, said the House cannot go on recess without passing the budget, insisting that the documents would have to be submitted.

    Mr. Ipoola Omisore (Ifako-Ijaiye II) said: “It is the desire of the House to pass the money bill before the end of the year. It is not right for any MDA to hold us back.”

    The House, led by the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, ordered the MDAs to present the documents to the committee on Thursday, January 2.

  • Ikuforiji tasks religious adherents on politics

    Ikuforiji tasks religious adherents on politics

    SPEAKER of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has expressed concern over the lack of interest of Muslims and Christians to politics and governance.

    Ikuforiji spoke when the Amir of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Nigeria, Dr. Mashud Fashola, paid him a courtesy visit at his residence on Saturday.

    The Speaker, who decried the declining participation of Muslims and Christians in politics and their non- involvement in how they are governed, warned that their welfare might not get better if this attitude is sustained.

    “With the size of the Muslim ummah (large family) we have, interests must be concentrated on how our socio-economic needs are being managed by the government. Participation in politics has been declining.

    “It’s like it is forbidden for us to be in politics, but the Holy Prophet Muhammad, however, emphasised this need to partake in politics and governance. In view of this, let me urge our people, both Muslims and Christians to be actively involved in public service so that we will not suffer in the scheme of things,” he advised.

    Earlier, the Amir of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in a written address had earlier praised the Speaker for the wisdom and exemplary leadership he has displayed in the running of the Assembly and government in the state.

    Fashola, however, drew the attention of the Speaker on the urgent need by the government to address the challenges of traffic congestion, population drift, poor drainage system and flood control, particularly in flood- prone areas.

    He specifically urged the Speaker to address the excessive rate of urbanisation, saying, “As a prominent legislative leader in the country, you are in a position to spearhead a concerted national policy at stemming the excessive and lopsided population drift.”

    Responding, the Speaker assured the visiting Amir of his readiness to address the issues, promising to cause the letter to be read on the floor of the House. He admitted that issues raised in the letter are germane.