The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos Assembly

  • Lagos Assembly probes council

    Lagos Assembly probes council

    Lagos State House of As-sembly has set up a seven-man ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged financial impropriety and unconstitutional acts against the chairman of Surulere Local Government, Mr. Tajudeen Ajide.

    The House resolved to probe the council boss, following the petition by the nine councillors. The petition was read by the Clerk of the House, Segun Abiru, at plenary.

    The petitioners alleged that the council chairman has been conducting the affairs of the council unilaterally without recourse to the councillors.

    The councillors alleged that “the chairman has been awarding contracts to his cronies, obtaining bank drafts without the knowledge and approval of the legislative arm.”

    They also alleged that Ajide has created an office for the chairman’s wife with salaries, impress and cars, which according to the petitioners, was contrary to the law of the state.

    The councillors further alleged that the chairman has only held meetings with the councillors on two occasions. They described him as ‘’a squandermania who has assumed the position of a war lord.”

    A legislator, Kabir Lawal (Surulere I), who spoke passionately about the issue said: ‘’We are more or less sitting on a gun powder in Surulere which can explode anytime.’’

    Lawal maintained that the situation has been dragging for long , adding that concerned citizens had intervened before now, but the chairman refused all pleas to let peace reign.

    Another lawmaker, Yinka Ogundimu (Agege II) said: ‘’The allegation represents the general decision of the councillors, which calls for thorough investigation. The chairman of the council should be made to step aside to allow independent investigation.”

    Also, Mr.Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla ( Mushin II), noted that the petition is comprehensive, advising his colleagues to treat the matter without bias.

    The deputy speaker, Kolawole Taiwo, who presided over the proceedings, appealed to members to tread with caution and allow the chairman to have a fair hearing.

    Members of the committee, which were given a week to report back to the House, include Deputy Whip Rotimi Abiru, who chairs the panel, Ahmed Omisore, Omotayo Oduntan, Yinka Ogundimu, Abiodun Tobun, Akeem Masha and Olumuyiwa Jimoh.

  • LAHASCOM begins absorption of Lagos Assembly staff

    The much-awaited staff absorption by the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM) began last week with legislative officers on grade levels 8, 9, 10 and 13 appearing before the commission for screening.

    Other officers like State counsels, administrative Officers, executive officers, information officers and technicians will take turns in days to come.

    Before the commencement of the ‘appraisal exercise’, Chairman of the commission, Chief Wale Mogaji, told reporters that the programme was geared towards creating a level of sanity within the commission staff.

    He added it will also help confirm officers who have elected to go with the commission and those that want to remain with the state’s Civil Service Commission.

    According to him: ”the purpose of this exercise is to fill the vacuum that may be created after the whole audit. After the appraisal, a report would be sent to the Civil Service Commission for appropriate action.”

    Mogaji, however, said contents of the report from the Civil Service Commission will play significant role in giving the assembly service commission a direction on how to complete the absorption process.

    The staff audit, he revealed, will take three weeks.

  • Lagos Assembly summons commissioner over resolution

    Lagos Assembly summons commissioner over resolution

    Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Florence Oguntuase for alleged tardiness in implementing its resolution.

    She is to appear before the lawmakers today to explain why she did not treat their resolution with urgency.

    In September, last year, the Assembly directed the commissioner to pay the seven-year salary arrears of veterinary doctors and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) veterinary officers from 2003 to 2010.

    Chairman, Committee on Establishment and Training, Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet, said then ”It is baffling that the ministry has failed to honour our resolution passed since September, 2012.”

    She said though the commissioner informed the Assembly in December, last year, about the step being taken to address the issue, nothing concrete has come out of it.

    Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji said: ”The issue at hand has to do with the slow pace of carrying out the resolution.

    ”If our ministry is working at a pace that is not helpful, the head of the ministry should be invited. It is not expected of any ministry of ours to work at a snail speed,” he said.

    Deputy Speaker, Kolawole Taiwo said such an act should be condemned, adding: ”We need to invite her and that would help us to know why she has failed to honour the resolution.’

  • Lagos Assembly passes 2013 budget

    Lagos Assembly passes 2013 budget

    Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday, at plenary session, passed the year 2013 budget after adopting the Appropriation Committee report and taking the third reading of the Appropriation Bill.

    The House approved a total budget sum of N499.105b out of which N229.777.729b is for recurrent expenditure while the sum of N269.376b goes for capital expenditure.

    The figure shows an increase in the amount presented by Governor Babatunde Fashola to the House on October 31.

    Fashola presented a total budget size of N497.227b in a budget he tagged as “Budget of poverty eradication and economic growth.”

    The budget, as approved by the House, shows an increase of about N2 billion.

    The House increased the allocations to some MDAs it said had inadequate allocations in the original presentattion to meet up with their operations.

    Some of the benefitting MDAs are: Lagos State House of Assembly; Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM); Lagos Internal Revenue Service; Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission and the Office of the Auditor General for Local Governments.

    The House admonished the Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions to speed up compilation on subventions required by all tertiary institutions in the state for their performance.

    The House also urged its Committee on Economic Planning, in conjunction with sub-committees of the House to conduct quarterly appraisal of the year 2013 approved budget performance of the MDAs.

    The bill is to be sent to Governor Fashola for assent.