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Tag: Lagos Assembly

  • Lagos Assembly urges Ambode to ‘properly’ present 2019 budget proposal

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has insisted that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode must appear before it to present this year’s budget, as required by the law.

    This followed the information read on the floor of the Assembly by the Clerk, Mr. Azeez Sanni, informing the lawmakers that his office received a message from the governor, dated December 17, but which he received on December 28 on the budget.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who hailed the lawmakers for their reactions to the message, noted that this was not the time for resentment, acrimony and agitation.

    The Speaker said the stake before the lawmakers was beyond 2019.

    “We must do everything to sustain our government, party and the state. You have all shed light on the issue in a mature matter.

    “We went on break on December 18. The first call I received on the budget was on December 24, that the governor was willing to present the budget that day.

    “We normally go on break for six weeks, but we went on break for two weeks, as we were waiting for the budget.

    “Also, we received the budget on December 28 when we were waiting for the New Year break.

    “There is no reason to shift the blame on the Assembly, that we were not willing to receive the budget,” he said.

    Obasa added that the lawmakers were willing to receive the 2019 budget, saying this was one of the reasons they were elected into office.

    He added: “We are ready to receive the budget, if it is done properly. We have no resentment, we have no bad blood.”

    Also, Yinka Ogundimu (Agege II) said: “We normally close early, but we closed late to receive the budget. It came about three days to the New Year and there was nothing we could have done.

     

     

  • Lagos Assembly to have nine Perm Secs

    The Lagos State House of Assembly will have nine permanent secretaries if the current amendment to the law setting up the House of Assembly Service Commission sails through.

    The provision is contained in the proposed bill on which public hearing was held yesterday at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium at the Assembly complex.

    Section 8 (1) of the bill makes provisions for eight deputy clerks, besides the Clerk, to head the eight directorates in the Assembly.

    The officers will be on Grade Level 17 and perform duties to be assigned to them by the Clerk.

    Section 8 (4) states: “The Deputy Clerks shall be of the same status and rank as a Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service and shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service.”

    They include: Deputy Clerk (Legislative Matters), Deputy Clerk (Legislative Drafting and Legal Services), Deputy Clerk (Publications) and Deputy Clerk (Administration and Human Resources).

    Others are: Deputy Clerk (Finance and Accounts), Deputy Clerk (Public Affairs), Deputy Clerk (Budget, Planning and Research Directorates) and Deputy Clerk (Works Directorate).

    Addressing reporters on the development, Deputy Speaker Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, who represented Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, said the law would promote self-accounting and motivate the Assembly’s workers.

    The deputy speaker noted that self-accounting for the Judiciary and the Legislature made the amendment important.

    He added: “So, we feel that the civil servants working in the Assembly must be energised and they must be ready to do all of these. Secondly, those working with us must be encouraged and motivated. We have about 400 workers and only one person could be the Permanent Secretary/Clerk. There are people on Level 17 who have been working for about five or 10 years.

    “How do you expect them to grow? We must do it as some states have done it. With this, we will have motivated the workforce in the Lagos State House of Assembly, and we will pay the approved salaries.”

    Eshinlokun-Sanni said self-accounting and independence of the legislature are important to the amendment.

  • Bill for anti-graft in public procurement passes second reading at Lagos Assembly

    A bill to enhance transparency in public procurement and fight against corruption in Lagos State went through the second reading during plenary on Monday at the House Assembly.

    The bill is titled: “A Bill for a Law to Amend the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency Law CH.L 56 Vol. 6 Laws of Lagos State and For Connected Purposes.”

    The amendment is also to enhance performance and effectiveness of procurement in the state.

    Major areas the law the lawmakers are looking into are: the composition, initial deposit to contractors and fund assessment.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Yinka Ogundimu said the tenure of principal officers of the board and the advanced payment to contractors should be examined in the amendment.

    He said: “The 20 per cent initial payment to contractors stipulated by the existing law is too small and had occasioned the increase in the number of abandoned projects.”

    Ogundimu said the review would enhance performance and delivery of standard jobs by contractors.

    Also, Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho Constituency I) said the amendment would foster independence and transparency in the operations of the board for the benefit of Lagos residents.

    Setonji David (Badagry Constituency II) said the committee handling the amendment should look at issues that have made the implementation of the existing law difficult.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa noted that the amendment was necessary to fight corruption in the state’s procurement operations.

    He said: “The essence of this amendment is to banish corruption and encourage transparency and probity in the award of contracts.”

    The speaker urged the house committee to peruse the board’s composition, first payment to contractors as well as the language of carrying out procurement activities.

    Obasa said there should be an increment in the initial deposit to contractors to 40 per cent as well as inclusion of indigenous language in carrying out procurement processes to encourage local contractors.

    The Speaker, who said there was a need to ensure that Lagosians were given only qualitative and durable projects, committed the amendment bill to the House Committee on Finance.

    He directed the committee to report back to the Assembly in three weeks.

    Also, the House also read for the second time the Private Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2018 as well as the Lagos State House of Assembly Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

     

  • Lagos Assembly: Five PDP defectors get return tickets

    Following the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), list of candidates for elective positions in 2019, two of the seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), could not secure return ticket for 2019 polls.

    Also three out of the 19 first term lawmakers in the 8th Assembly lost their bid to come back for a second term, following their defeat at the primary.

    The two PDP defectors who could not make it are: the former Minority Leader, Mr. Akeem Bello representing Amuwo Odofin 2 Constituency and Mr. Adedayo Famakinwa representing Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1 constituency.

    The three first termers who also lost out at the primary are: Mr. Sola Giwa representing Lagos Mainland 2 Constituency, Bello and Famakinwa.

    Although reliable sources at the Assembly said the defectors were promised automatic return tickets, the party’s decision to subject the aspirants to direct primaries have worked against that promise for Bello and Famakinwa who could not pull their weight at the primary.

    Although Bello’s name was in the first list released by INEC, his name is however, not in the latest list released by the electoral body Friday last week.

    The 8th Lagos Assembly started with eight opposition lawmakers from PDP and seven of them later defected to the ruling APC and only five were able to secure return tickets.

  • Lagos Assembly calls for caution on ‘Operation Velvet’

    Lagos State House of Assembly has called for caution on the implementation of “Operation Velvet”.

    It was designed to check vehicle particulars and enforce traffic laws on Lagos roads by the Police and other agencies.

    Raising the issue yesterday at plenary under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, said the House hailed the Nigeria Police and others for the decision to curtail recklessness on roads.

    He urged the Assembly to call on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to appeal to Police Commissioner Edgal Imohinmi to allow vehicle owners regularise their documents before the beginning of the operation.

    Agunbiade enjoined the Assembly to call on the Ministry of Information to inform the people to regularise their documents.

    He said the Public Works Corporation (PWC) should begin palliative works on roads and put them in good condition.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said it was not out of place for the police to collaborate with others to be more effective.

    On ‘Operation Velvet,’ he said the law had to be respected and appealed to the police command to jettison the issue of particulars now.

    “People should be given time to regularise their documents. Many things are included in the operation.”

  • Lagos Assembly denies plan to impeach Ambode

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has denied the rumour in the media that it is planning to impeach Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Speaking at plenary yesterday, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa urged the public to disregard the rumour.

    Obasa said he had received telephone calls and enquiries from prominent residents on the alleged impeachment plan against Ambode.

    According to him, Solidarity Group of Nigeria and a faction of the state chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Mr. Fuad Oki, had been insinuating that the state’s lawmakers allegedly threatened the governor to open the treasury for them or face impeachment.

    Obasa said: “We are not embarking on any impeachment process against the governor. If there would be an impeachment, it would be from the governor. And if there would not be any need for impeachment, it would be from him, based on his actions.

    “Even at that, impeachment is constitutional. So many speakers, Senate presidents, presidents and others have been impeached all over the world. So, nobody can threaten us if it happens because we are representatives of the people.

    “We don’t need the wailers to guide us in performing our duties. It is not out of place for us to do our job.”

    The Speaker added that if there was going to be an impeachment, it would be done in the open.

    He said Lagos residents would know if an impeachment against the governor would happen.

    Obasa said the Assembly was working with Ambode to ensure peace and development across the state.

    Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade said the constitutional procedure for an impeachment does not harbour secrecy, adding that the public would know if it would happen.

    Last week, the Assembly ordered the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state to direct the operators of private sector participation (PSP) involved in refuse collection to return to work.

  • Lagos State House of Assembly postpones resumption by 3 weeks

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday postponed its resumption earlier scheduled for Sept. 17 to Oct. 8.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Assembly had on July 10 adjourned to Sept. 17 to enable members to go on their annual recess.

    During the period, the House hosted the Conference of South West Speakers and Conference of Speakers of Nigeria between Aug. 3 and Aug. 5 in Lagos.

    NAN reports that the conference elected new executive at its 2018 Second Quarter Conference and the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly emerged as its new chairman.

    Speaking to NAN on phone about the postponement, Mr Azeez Sanni, the Clerk of the House, said that the House would now resume on Oct. 8.

    Sanni said: “There is a publication to that effect (to the postponement of resumption). The House will resume on Oct. 8”.

    On the reason for the postponement, the clerk said that the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, would be able to provide the reason.

    A message sent to the phone line of Tejuosho was not replied.

    NAN correspondent who monitor the atmosphere in the House, revealed that only few lawmakers came to the office. (NAN)

  • Lagos Assembly reconstitutes committees

    Months after the dissolution of its standing committees, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa has announced the reconstitution of the committees of the House.
    Announcing the new committees during plenary yesterday  Obasa revealed that while he would head the Selection Committee, the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru would be the Chairman of the Business Rules and Ethics Committee.
    Other committee chairmen are Agriculture, Hon. Rasheed Makinde, Health Services, Hon. Akeem Shokunle, House Services, Hon. Fatai Oluwa, Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, Environment, Hon. Dayo Saka-Fafunmi and Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Abiodun Tobun.
    Also announced were, Public Accounts (Local), Hon. Bisi Yusuff, Public Accounts (State), Hon. Moshood Oshun, Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, Information and Strategy, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho,  Judiciary, LASIEC, Human Rights and Petition, Hon. Tunde Braimoh and Water Front Infrastructure, Hon. Dayo Famakinwa.
    The rest are Establishment and Training, Hon. Mojisola Miranda, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara, Commerce and Industry, Hon. Jude Idimogu, Central Business District, Hon. Oladele Adekanye, Education, Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, Wealth Creation, Hon. Raheem Kazeem , Tourism and Culture, Hon. Noheem Adams, and Housing, Hon. Ibrahim Layode.
    The Assembly will host Conference of South West Speakers and Conference of Speakers of Nigeria in the first week of August, 2018.

  • Lagos Assembly to review pension law

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has indicated plan to add value to the state’s pension administration.

    Its Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, made this known yesterday at a Public Hearing on a Bill for a Law to Amend the Lagos State Pension Reform Law 2007 in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the proposed amendments are targeted at 22 sections of the 77-section law.

    The Speaker, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said that the assembly was determined to make the state pension scheme better.

    “We will ensure that enough funds are included in the budget to ensure that we have enough funds to cater for pensioners,” Obasa said.

    He said the contributions of the stakeholders would be factored into the final draft of the bill.

    In her contributions, Mrs Funlola Odunlami, the Director General of the Lagos State Pension Commission, said there were two sets of pensioners in the state’s pension scheme.

    She said the state paid its pensions promptly and had cleared a backlog of four years.

    “We are now on a smooth sail; the backlog that his excellency met from 2011- 2015 has been cleared.

    “Now, his excellency has said there will be additional funds for the next phase,” she said.

    A former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Television Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo, advocated an extension of the retirement age of specialists in health sector from 60 years to 65 or 70 years.

    He said such specialists in health sector still had much to contribute at 60.

  • Lagos Assembly celebrates Tinubu at 66

    THE Lagos State House of Assembly has felicitated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his 66th birthday with the Speaker Mudashiru Obasa calling on the Southwest to rally round him.

    Obasa explained that it was important to identify with Tinubu and celebrate him as the House does every year.

    He then opened the floor for the members to celebrate the “icon for his contributions to our democracy”.

    In his contribution, Tunde Braimoh said it was a delight to celebrate Tinubu, who he said was the architect of modern democracy in Nigeria.

    Braimoh, representing Kosofe Constituency 1, agreed with the Speaker that Tinubu laid the foundation for the progress being enjoyed in Lagos State through its successive governors.

    He said the people troop to the venue of Asiwaju Tinubu Colloquium every year to celebrate him, adding that topic of this year’s edition: “Investing in people,” was apt.

    Bisi Yusuff, representing Alimosho Constituency 1, said it was important to celebrate Tinubu, who he called a crisis manager and a man with a large heart.

    Olumuyiwa Jimoh said he was happy to be associated with Tinubu and that his service to humanity was weightier than Mt. Kilimanjaro.

    Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade noted that Tinubu’s doggedness has assisted Nigerians to stand behind the progressives.

    Agunbiade recalled that the APC won the general election at the national level and defeated an incumbent government through Tinubu, saying that he is an enigma, who has trodden the path of honour.

    In her view, the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Omotayo Oduntan described the APC stalwart as a friend to many people, who keeps going, when things are tough.

    Rasheed Makinde observed that the annual colloquium in honour of Tinubu has become a source of policies to the government and that he is a brilliant strategist and a planner.

    Obasa, however, appealed to the people of the Southwest to rally round Tinubu.

    “It is not easy to find an ‘Araba Tree’.  We should see Asiwaju Tinubu as our own ‘Araba’ that is difficult to come by.

    “We should rally round him, protect and support him. A man of this substance is not easy to come by,” he said.

    Obasa then directed the Clerk of the House, Azeez Sanni, to write a letter to Tinubu on behalf of the House to “congratulate him on his 66th birthday.

    The lawmakers later cut a birthday cake in honour of the APC stalwart.