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Tag: Lagos Assembly

  • Mile 12 crisis: Lagos Assembly seeks scholarship for victim

    Mile 12 crisis: Lagos Assembly seeks scholarship for victim

    Lagos State House of Assembly has appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to award scholarship to Mr. Bolaji Kalejaiye, who was hit by a stray bullet during the recent crisis in Mile 12 Market, Lagos.

    In a report presented to the House by the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Olusegun Olulade, it was revealed that the Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa led some lawmakers from the Assembly on Saturday 12 March to visit Bolaji in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he underwent a surgery after the incident.

    The House subsequently resolved that a letter should be written to Governor Ambode to sponsor the education of the young man, who was said to have scored 250 in the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and who wishes to study medicine at the University of Ibadan.

    However, the House resolved that a letter should be written to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni to condemn the action of his men at the Mile 12 police post, who reportedly rejected the boy when he ran to them after he was hit by the bullet.

    Also, the Clerk of the House was directed to write a letter of commendation to the private hospital, which admitted the boy, removed the bullet wound in his body without collecting any money before transferring him to LASUTH for further treatment.

    According to Obasa, the story of Bolaji Kalejaiye is an interesting one, adding that he decided to visit the boy with other lawmakers, when he read his story in a national newspaper on Saturday 12th March.

    “I called Hon. Olulade and others on the phone immediately and they all joined me in going to LASUTH to visit the boy. I want to commend Bolaji’s courage, determination and bravery. I was impressed to have read that after he was hit by a stray bullet, the boy packed his intestine with his cloth and ran to a police post, where he was rejected.

    “He later fell down and was assisted to the hospital by the residents of the area. We need to commend the private hospital for treating the boy without asking for police report or money. We commend the doctors for their efforts in removing the bullet from the boy before he was taken to LASUTH,” he said.

    The Speaker then added that the state Police Commissioner should investigate the action of his boys at the police post in Mile 12, and that the House should continue to pray for Bolaji as he would undergo a second surgery in the hospital in the next one week.

    In his contribution, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh said that the action of the police in the matter should be condemned, but that people should not rush to police stations, when they sustain injuries.

    Also, Hon. Rotimi Olowo advised that the police should use rubber bullets when next there is crisis and that they should criminalise any act of vandalism.

    In his submission, Hon. Victor Akande said that the state Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police should be called upon to teach their men modern policing.

    Hon. Adedamola Kasunmu said that the police should know that their first duty is to combat crime and protect the lives of the people.

    Also contributing, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu stated that the boy was shot by the police that ought to protect him and also rejected by the same police.

    “Sending the boy out is like sending him to his death; we should also consider the issue of scholarship. Issues of first aid should also be taught in our schools. Our movie industries should also produce films on first aid treatment,” he said.

  • Lagos Assembly urges CP to investigate murder trader

    Lagos Assembly urges CP to investigate murder trader

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday called on the state Police Command to investigate the murder of a Ladipo trader Mr Anene Utazi who was killed on February 25 at the Ladipo Market, Mushin.

    Utazi’s death followed the clash between security agents and traders during a protest against alleged extortion.

    The call followed a motion moved by Hon Jude Idimogu (Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II) under matters of Urgent Public Importance.

    Idimogu, who decried the incident, said such needed to be investigated to prevent further destruction.

    According to him, one man from Awoyemi Family who claimed ownership of a portion of land at the market came to the market with armed thugs to destabilise it.

    He said that the thugs destroyed a lot of property at the market and killed the victim in the process.

    The lawmaker, however, called for a quick passage of Land Grabbers Bill on the floor of the House to check all land-related issues.

    Responding, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, described the incident as a bad image for the state.

    Obasa said that the matter should be investigated by the Police to curb future occurrence

    Meanwhile, Ladipo Market President-General Mr Kingsley Ogunor yesterday narrated how Utazi died during an attack by hoodlums who invaded the market.

    At a briefing at its secretariat, he said Utazi, 27, sustained injuries from matchet cuts on his head and a gunshot on his right muscle on February 18. He fell into a coma and died a week later.

    Ogunor urged the Inspector-General of Police (IG), AIG Zone 2 and the state Commissioner of Police to fish out the killers of the late Utazi, adding that so far no arrest had been made.

    ‘’The magnitude of these cases and its emotional outburst is not one to be swept under the carpet for us to achieve a serene environment. As we remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, we have explicit confidence in the Nigeria Police force in discharging their constitutional duties,’’ he said.

    The market association’s Secretary-General Pastor Steve Paul said the traders also lost goods and cash worth N45 million.

    Ogunor accused one Ijoba, a cemetery attendant, of fomenting the trouble that led to the death of Utazi.

    He debunked claims that the association owed the owners of the land on which the market is built, a problem which triggered the conflict.

    ‘’The Owoyemi family, who purportedly lay claim to Odo Aladura Market with over 2,000 traders and 200,000 dependents, resulted to self-help by employing the services of Ijoba for the demolition of the Odo Aladura Market without following due process of law and applying police protection.

    “Let me also use this opportunity to debunk the rumours going around that we are fighting our wonderful Yoruba community. We are only seeking justice for our departed member, killed by another Ibo man,’’ Ogunor added.

    A representative of the Utazi family Mr Denis Dieke called for justice.

    Dieke lamented that his brother was attacked despite that his shop was in the middle of the market.

    While seeking a befitting funeral for the deceased, he urged the government and his colleagues to assist Utazi’s family, noting that he had many relatives and an aged father as dependents.

  • Lagos Assembly eulogises Tinubu

    Lagos Assembly eulogises Tinubu

    Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday eulogised the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, following his receipt of The Sun Man of the Year Award.

    The issue was raised by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Sani-Eshinlokun, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.

    The lawmakers took turns to laud the former governor.

    The Chairman, Committee on Waterfront, Gbolahan Yishawu, said Tinubu has contributed to leadership and nation building.

    The Chairman, Committee on Environment, Dayo Saka-Fafunmi, said the APC national leader labours for good governance.

    The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, described Tinubu as a selfless man, who believes in justice and fairness.

    Obasa urged members to continue to pray for Tinubu and his family. He praised The Sun for considering Tinubu for the award.

    He directed the Clerk, Ganiyu Abiru, to send a congratulatory letter to the former governor.

  • Boat mishap: Lagos speaker blames transport ministry, LASWA

    Boat mishap: Lagos speaker blames transport ministry, LASWA

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has pointed out that lack of effective regulations from the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the state ministry of transportation were responsible for incessant boat accidents on the state waterways, saying henceforth they will be held responsible for any accident.

    Obasa made the observation yesterday at plenary after members had taken comments from the State commissioner for Transportation, Dayo Mobereola and Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Abisola Kamson during plenary.

    The House had last week summoned the Commissioner and the MD LASWA over re-occurrence of boat accidents that have claimed several lives in the state.

    The speaker who conspicuously expressed displeasure over the responses of the duo when they quizzed at plenary, stated that “as we speak, you have no regulations. You have not been able to do the necessary regulation to monitor the activities of the operators and you have been operating without a board.

    “How many times have you taken time to be on the waterways? What is your staff strength? What is the local government doing about this? It shows in fact that you are not in existence,” Obasa said.

    He however, said that a stakeholders meeting with all the relevant agencies, would be called to address the issue holistically. Earlier in her reaction to questions posed by the lawmakers, LASWA MD said that some of the challenges the Authority has been facing included a judgement that was delivered against LASWA, adding that Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has been leveraging on the judgement.

    Kamson explained that some of the causes of the tragedies recorded on the waterways were as a result of over speeding by operators, vessels not fitted with the required technology like speedometer and running into fallen logs along the waterways among others.

    She added that, “what we are now doing is to work in collaboration with marine police and operators to adhere to safety regulations.”

    She disclosed that over 2 million passengers ply the Lagos waterways on monthly basis, adding that all the 26 jetties on the waterways are being manned by water guards who would be responsible for ensuring regulation.

    In his comments, the commissioner for Transportation, Mobereola said since the incident occurred there had been stakeholders meeting where LASWA, NIWA, Marine police and Lagos State Safety Corps were in attendance.

    He added that the state government has been doing “everything humanly possible to avert such accident in future. Water transportation is one of the cardinal programmes of the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and would also do things in accordance with that regards.”

  • Lagos Assembly summons contractor over HOMS project

    Lagos Assembly summons contractor over HOMS project

    The Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Housing has summoned Armonia Properties Development Company Limited to the Assembly for allegedly abandoning the two blocks of Lagos HOMS project it is handling in Omole Phase 2 Area of the state.

    Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, who led other members of the committee on a visit to the project sites on Thursday, expressed dissatisfaction with the stage the housing project being handled by the company was, especially when it was discovered that they have been properly mobilised for the project.

    The committee members, who were taken round the project site by officials of the New Towns Development Authority (NTDA) that is supervising the sites, declared that the committee would not take it lightly with any contractor who fails to deliver the Lagos HOMS project as at when due.

    “We will not allow any contractor mess up the laudable project of the state government. The project is meant to make life better for our people and we will not compromise that. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the work is done as at when due. I wonder why officials of Armonia are not here. We will want them to come to the Assembly with NTDA officials to explain what happened to the two blocks of building they are handling,” Layode said.

    Other Lagos HOMS sites visited on the day by the committee, which began the two-week tour on Wednesday, were the ones in Oko Oba, Omole Phase 1, Magodo and Akanimodo, which are still at piling level.

    According to Layode, the committee decided to embark on the visit based on the reports in a national newspaper on January 25, 2016, where the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) gave the Lagos State Government a seven-day ultimatum to revert to it on the state of the Lagos State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme.

    The CPC asked the state government to investigate the delay in the completion of the Mushin Lagos HOMS project and alleviate the pains of the winners. The Lagos HOMS winners had written the CPC after an earlier letter to the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, did not yield any fruit.

    The winners, in a letter dated November 7, 2015, said their hopes had been dashed by the state government after committing their life savings to the project.

     

  • Lagos Assembly wants teaching of Yoruba language compulsory in schools

    Lagos Assembly wants teaching of Yoruba language compulsory in schools

    Lagos State House of Assembly Thursday at plenary called for a stakeholders’ summit on the promotion of the teaching of Yoruba language in private and public schools.

    The resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr Sanai Agunbiade and seconded by Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health.

    Agunbiade spoke in commemoration of the 7th Anniversary of adopting Yoruba language for deliberations every Thursday in the Assembly which commenced on Feb. 5, 2009.

    He said, “This House calls on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to direct Commissioner for Education to take a quick step to ensure that syllabus in public and private schools in the state make the teaching and learning of Yoruba language compulsory.

    “That we should convey a Stakeholders’ Summit to look at the challenges in teaching Yoruba in schools as well as to ensure that Yoruba Language is taught at least three times in a week both in private and public schools.”

    According to him, it has become necessary to call a meeting of Tutor General, PTA and all other stakeholders in education sector to know the problems.

    “Most schools today do not speak Yoruba Language again and other indigenous languages. In fact, many parents frown at their children whenever they speak Yoruba.

    “We should ensure that Yoruba Language does not go into extinction. Other people embrace their language, we should also be proud of ours.

    “We should meet with all heads of Education Districts, if teachers are not enough, we should employ more. We don’t have any justification for not teaching and embracing our language,” he said.

    Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi, Chairman, House Committee on Education said the responsibility was on the government and parents to ensure that Yoruba language did not go into extinction.

    He said, “It’s a must that we bequeath the language to our children. The National Policy on Education and our constitution mandate the teaching and learning of our indigenous languages.

    “We need to call on all in charge of education to make teaching of the language compulsory in Lagos. Indigenous Languages will promote love and unity,” he said.

    According to him, Feb. 21 is the International Mother Language Day as declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

    Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health also called for the promotion of Yoruba language, culture and tradition.

    Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin I) said, “We have thrown away our language, there is nothing to be ashamed of in speaking our language. She decried the habit of punishing or making students pay fine for speaking Yoruba language in schools.

    The Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said, “it is not our making that we were born here, others speaking their indigenous languages are progressing in other climes.

    “We need to encourage our language, and be proud of it. Using our indigenous language to teach our children yields better results as posited by late Bola Ige and Prof. Wole Soyinka.

    “We will call for a stakeholders’ summit on this motion to promote teaching and learning of Yoruba in schools as most private schools do not embrace it again,” Obasa said.

  • Lagos Assembly speaker mourns Olubadan

    Lagos Assembly speaker mourns Olubadan

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has commiserated with the good people of Ibadan and Oyo State Government over the demise of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1.

    Obasa, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Musbau Rasak said the late monarch was a dedicated, dynamic and highly resourceful monarch whose tenure contributed significantly to the development of Ibadanland.

    The speaker was however optimistic that the next Olubadan would build on the achievements recorded by his predecessor to take Ibadan to a greater height.

    Obasa said, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of the Olubadan, we share the pains of the good people of Ibadan and the State Government of Oyo State; we also commiserate with you at this trying period and may our prayers serve as comfort to you and your loved ones.

    “We extend our deepest sympathy and our condolences to the family of the Olubadan, as we know that it is very hard to bear, but must remember that death is the ultimate end of every human being; and the beginning of eternal life in the hereafter.

    “In his life time, the late Olubadan was a strong combatant soldier which made him soar in the Nigeria Army, a diligent civil servant, seasoned politician and a devoted member and co-founder of several organisations such as the Ibadan Economic Foundation and the Ibadan Progressive Union,” Obasa said.

    According to the Speaker, the demised Oba brought his experience to bear on the socio-economic development of Ibadan city and other towns under his control.

    The late Olubadan, who was born in Igbo Elerin, Ibadan on April 14th, 1914 became the Olubadan in July 2007 and passed on peacefully at the age of 101 on Tuesday evening, in his palace.

  • Lagos Assembly to initiate bill on health trust fund

    Lagos Assembly to initiate bill on health trust fund

    Lagos State House of Assembly has disclosed that plans are underway to initiate the Health Trust Fund Bill, which if passed into law, will assist in the funding of the state health sector.

    This disclosure was made Tuesday by the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Hon. Segun Olulade, when he led other members of the committee on an inspection tour to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    Olulade who was confronted with several complaints by some of the patients and their relatives, especially as it relates to medical fees, assured the people that his committee is already working on the Health Trust Fund Bill, which according to him may come to place before the end of the year.

    The lawmaker explained that the bill if passed into law by the House and signed by the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, will allow well meaning individuals, philanthropists, corporate organisations and so on, to willingly donate money to the fund as is being done with the state Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

    While responding to the issue of shortage of manpower/personnel, Olulade, who is representing Epe Constituency II, promised that the government will look into the issue, promising that more doctors and nurses will be employed across the state’s General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres, so as to reduce the number of patients that visit LASUTH.

    Earlier, some of the patients and their relatives who were on ground when the committee got to the hospital, had commended the staff and health officials of the hospital, but complained that the hospital don’t have enough doctors and nurses to attend to their large number.

    One of the patients, a female who doesn’t want her name in print, complained that drugs are sold to them at very expensive rate, and most times, patients are made to go to pharmacies outside the hospitals to get drugs.

    Olulade, however, who advised that the hospital drugs should be sold at cheaper rates, mandated the hospital management, especially, those in charge of the pharmacies within the hospital to make drugs available for the people and at cheaper rates.

    Some of them also appealed to the committee to assist them in the area of medical bills, which they claimed were always too much for them to bear.

    The committee, after going round all the sections in the hospital, later commended the management of the hospital with the way it is running the hospital.

  • Lagos Assembly probes alleged maternal death

    Lagos Assembly probes alleged maternal death

    Lagos State House of Assembly has launched a probe into how Mrs Omowunmi Shonuga died last October at General Hospital, Igando. She was said to have died from alleged negligence by medical personnel of the Lagos State Government.

    Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Olusegun Olulade yesterday led other members of the Committee and the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFEMAA) to the Rauf Aregbesola Primary Health Centre, from where she was said to have been transferred to Igando.

    The committee also inspected facilities at the health centre as part of its ongoing tour of the general hospitals in the state.

    The investigation followed a petition sent to the Assembly by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), alleging that Mrs Shonuga’s death could have been avoided if the medical staff of the hospital had been diligent enough.

    The Ward Health Committee Chairman, Mr Lawal Adeshina speaking for Rauf Aregbesola PHC, opened another angle to the case of the late Shonuga which require further adequate investigation.

    However, Olulade reiterated the committee’s resolve to probe the case to a logical conclusion because of some “contradictory disclosures” made at the hospital.

    He said: “Since some new contradictions have emerged, we would dig further and get to the root of the matter.”

    The committee also made enquiries at Alimosho General Hospital, while HEFEMAA assessed its facilities.

  • Lagos Assembly invalidates Pedro’s impeachment

    Lagos Assembly invalidates Pedro’s impeachment

    The Lagos State House of Assembly at plenary Thursday invalidated the impeachment of former Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Femi Pedro.

    This resolution followed the adoption of the recommendation of the eight member Ad Hoc Committee constituted on July 2, to review the circumstances that led to impeachment of Pedro.

    The House, which passed a vote of confidence on Pedro, said that the allegations of his impeachment were not connected to criminal charges.

    The committee, headed by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, in its report said:

    “In line with Rule 51 (6) of the Business, Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the committee recommends that this House should by a substantive motion review the impeachment passed on Otunba Femi Pedro on Thursday May 10, 2007 by the 5th Assembly.

    “Pardon him and pass a vote of confidence on him as a fit and proper person that can be entrusted with political and administrative responsibilities.”

    36 members of the House were in support of the pardon while only one lawmaker voted against it and another abstained.

    It will be recalled that Pedro was impeached towards the end the tenure of Bola Tinubu as Governor for gross misconducts on May 10, 2007.

    The ex-deputy governor had urged the House to revisit his impeachment in a letter sent to the 8th Assembly on compassionate ground.

    In his contribution, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, the Chairman House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, urged the Assembly to reverse the impeachment for the ex-deputy governor to live a normal life.

    Olowo said that Pedro has shown remorse and needed to be forgiven.

    He said, ” to err is human, to forgive is divine. Pedro has shown much remorse and obedience, let’s pardon him to have his sanity back. Pedro has passed through much psychological trauma.”

    He said the purpose of the impeachment then was not based on fraud or criminal tendencies.

    Hon. Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health commended the adhoc committee for the recommendation to revert the impeachment.

    Olulade also commended Pedro for withdrawing court cases challenging his removal to allow the Assembly wade into the matter.

    According to the lawmaker, Pedro should be forgiven and be allowed to further contribute to the society.

    Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin I) said, “I am in agreement with the report of the committee, all the allegations against Pedro were not criminal.

    “The former deputy governor has displayed a lot of maturity and honourable behaviour. His name has to be cleared. He is a man of integrity and we should clear him of the allegations.”

    However, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Hon. Tunde Braimoh urged the House to direct the Executive to invalidate documents against Pedro.

    Responding, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that the House was not absorbing Pedro of the allegation but decided to pardon him for showing remorse.

    Obasa said that since Pedro was not convicted of any crime by any court of law, the Assembly had decided to pardon him and undo the impeachment served on him in 2007.