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Tag: Lagos Assembly

  • Normalcy returns to Lagos Assembly after Obasa’s impeachment

    Normalcy returns to Lagos Assembly after Obasa’s impeachment

    Following the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on Tuesday, the atmosphere at the Lagos State House of Assembly has remained calm.

    Security has been scaled down, although changes in security personnel have been made at key positions within and around the premises.

    Sources revealed that lawmakers visited Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu earlier but have not shared any information regarding their discussions. 

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    They indicated that updates would be provided when necessary but have been instructed to withhold any information for now.

    It was also reported that the mace, which was nearly seized by thugs allegedly loyal to the former speaker, is now secured in a safer location.

    Most of the former speaker’s appointees did not show up, and activities within the Assembly are currently slow, likely awaiting directives from the incoming speaker.

  • Lagos Assembly passes N3.366tr 2025 Appropriation Bill

    Lagos Assembly passes N3.366tr 2025 Appropriation Bill

    Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday passed the N3.366 trillion Appropriation Bill after the chairman of the Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Sa’ad Olumoh, presented the report.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directed the Clerk of the House to transmit a clean copy of the passed bill to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.

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    He commended his colleagues for their hard work in passing the budget.

    A breakdown of the financial estimates shows that N1.295 trillion will go for recurrent expenditure, while N2.071 trillion is for capital expenditure.

    The House also passed a bill to consolidate all laws on local government administration in the state.

    The provisions are based on constitutional amendments affecting local governments.

  • JUST IN: Lagos Assembly speaker dismisses N17 Billion gate allegation

    JUST IN: Lagos Assembly speaker dismisses N17 Billion gate allegation

    The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday, December 19, dismissed the allegation that the Assembly spent N17 billion on the construction of a gate, calling the claim “spurious and funny.”

    The group, known as the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, made the accusation and called for an investigation into the matter.

    Speaking during plenary, Dr. Obasa suggested that the allegation was motivated by concerns some individuals have regarding the 2027 elections, which are still over two years away.

    He also refuted claims that the Assembly spent N200 million on the recently held 22nd Thanksgiving service for its staff.

    “It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on Thanksgiving which did not hold.

    “We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.

    “This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our Thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.

    Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.

    “They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.

    “This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.

    Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.

    “It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.

    Read Also: Lagos Assembly speaker mourns Olubadan

    “One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.

    “Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.

    “These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.

  • Ajah community protest at Lagos Assembly, kick against alleged plan of monarch imposition

    Ajah community protest at Lagos Assembly, kick against alleged plan of monarch imposition

    Hundreds of residents from the Ajah community staged a peaceful protest on Thursday, November 28, at the Lagos State House of Assembly to oppose the alleged plan to install a member of the Olumegbon family from Lagos Island as their traditional ruler.

    The protesters, led by the Secretary of the Ajah Community, Alhaji Kazeem Odunlami, voiced their concerns, emphasizing that the matter of Ajah’s Obaship is still being contested in court.

    They called on the Lagos state government to respect judicial processes and maintain the peace in their community. 

    Odunlami said: “The Lagos state government should save our souls in Ajah town. The families in Ajah unanimously reject the imposition of an Olumegbon as Oba. The Obaship dispute is pending in suit LD/6432GCMW/2019, and the court must determine who is entitled to the throne before any appointment is made.” 

    He highlighted a subsisting interlocutory order from the Lagos High Court, which mandates the government and the Olumegbon family to maintain the status quo, pending the resolution of the case.

    Odunlami noted that disregarding the court’s order could result in chaos in Ajah. 

    He said: “The Olumegbon chieftaincy is historically and jurisdictionally rooted in Lagos Island, not Ajah. For over 300 years, the Baale of Ajah has been our recognized leader, and the Ajah chieftaincy declaration of 1957 supports this. The Olumegbon family has no historical or judicial claim to rule Ajah.” 

    The protesters accused the Olumegbon family of attempting to disrupt the community’s established order, warning that any imposition could lead to unrest. 

    Addressing the protesters, Bonu Samson, the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 1, commended their peaceful demonstration and assured them that their concerns would be conveyed to the House. 

    Read Also: Lagos Assembly passes vote of confidence in Obasa

    “We appreciate your peaceful conduct,” Samson said. “We will ensure this matter is addressed amicably, but we urge you to remain law-abiding and patient.” 

    Similarly, Desmond Olusola Elliot, representing Surulere Constituency 1, pledged that the House would consider the matter during its next plenary session.

    However, he clarified that the Assembly would not interfere with ongoing court proceedings. 

    “We’ve heard your grievances, and the House will deliberate on them,” Elliot said. “But we must respect the judiciary’s role and not interfere in matters under litigation.” 

    The Ajah community leaders, therefore, reiterated their commitment to peace while urging the Lagos State government to avoid actions that could escalate tensions. 

    “We are not subjects of the Olumegbon family and will not accept their rulership. The government must refrain from approving any Obaship that could lead to anarchy in our town,” Odunlami stated.

  • Lagos Assembly holds Second Public Hearing on Council Administration Bill

    Lagos Assembly holds Second Public Hearing on Council Administration Bill

    Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday agreed to conduct another public hearing on a bill that seeks to review the Local Government Administration law of the state.

    The House invited the Attorney-General of the State, Lawal Pedro, for an interpretation of the recent Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for local governments.

    The resolutions came at a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

    Dr. Obasa said the review of the Local Government Administration law is not aimed at scrapping the local council development areas (LCDAs), but to further strengthen them.

    “I agree on the need for us to schedule a second allotted day for the public hearing,” the Speaker said, adding that he had been inundated with calls by people who wanted to know the fate of the LCDAs.

    Read Also; Local government administrators

    “We are not scrapping LDCAs. Rather, what we are trying to do is to look at the recent Supreme Court judgment in terms of Lagos and local governments joint account and fashion out a way where the parent local governments and the LDCAs work together without the LDCAs being short-changed,” he said.

    Obasa agreed on the need to work for the formal listing of the LCDAs by the National Assembly.

    “Kano has 44 local governments and out of Kano, Jigawa was created and has 27,” he said, suggesting a review of the revenue sharing formula by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

    Chairman of the Committee on Local Government, Sanni Okanlawon, had, while giving a report on the public hearing earlier conducted by the committee, said many of the stakeholders invited for the event could not make it.

    He attributed the poor attendance to the weather condition of the day, praying the House to approve a second allotted day for the exercise.

  • Model schools fee review: Lagos Assembly wades in

    Model schools fee review: Lagos Assembly wades in

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has waded in the controversy triggered by the hike in boarding fees in the state’s model colleges.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa broke the news during plenary in the Assembly chamber at Alausa yesterday.

    The review of boarding fee in model colleges from N35,000 to N100, 000 by the government had sparked protests by parents, who described the new fee as unaffordable.

    The Speaker, who addressed protesters at the Assembly assured that the lawmakers would intervene.

    Obasa directed the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Mrs. Mosunmola Shogodara to invite all concerned stakeholders to discuss the issue and report back within a week.

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    He advised the parents to remain calm, assuring them that the matter would be addressed.

    Shogodara (Surulere II), informed the House that the committee was in talks with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders on the matter.

    According to her, it was agreed that the increment should only take effect from the second term, allowing parents more time to adjust.

    Also speaking, Mr. Shabi Adekola (Lagos Mainland II) stakeholders agreed during discussions with the Permanent Secretary and others that parents should maintain status quo.

    Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa Constituency II), who pointed out that the increment was primarily related to students’ feeding costs, urged the government to explore ways to ease the financial burden on parents and offer assistance.

    Bonu Solomon (Badagry I) added that parents had raised concerns that the students who were unable to pay the new fee were not allowed to buy food within the school premises, further complicating the situation.

  • Lagos Assembly set to replace LCDAs with administrative areas

    Lagos Assembly set to replace LCDAs with administrative areas

    …gives governor power to suspend erring chairmen, vice chairmen

    The Lagos State House of Assembly is set to replace the current 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state with Administrative Areas.

    This is contained in a Bill for a Law to provide for Local Government’s System, Establishment And Administration And to Consolidate All Laws On Local Government Administration And Connected Purposes, which went through public hearing on Thursday.

    The bill specifies that the system of local government will be by democratically elected local governments.

    According to the Bill, there shall be twenty (20) Local Government Areas in the State as specified in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

    The bill is coming on the heels of the financial autonomy recently granted the 774 local governments in the country by the Supreme Court, which specified that money would not be released to any local government, which has no democratically elected executive members.

    “As from the commencement of this Law, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) shall conduct elections into the twenty (20) Local Government Councils in the state as recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).

    “The twenty (20) Local Government Councils shall have designated Area Administrative Offices as listed in the 1st Schedule to this Law for effective and efficient local government administration in the State.

    “Each Local Government Area will have its headquarters in the place names in the third column of Schedule 1 to this Law.

    “There shall be thirty-seven (37) Area Administrative Councils in the State with the names specified in Schedule 11 of the Creation of Local Government Areas (Amendment) Law of 2004,” the Bill stated.

    It was added that each Local Government’s Administrative Council shall be headed by Area Administrative Secretary, who shall be appointed by the Governor subject to the confirmation of the House.

    The Bill stated further that each Area Administrative Council shall be funded by the Local Government Area under which it falls.

    Moreso, it was stated that each Local Government Area has the power to delegate any of its functions to the Area Administrative Council falling within the  territory of the Local Government Area.

    “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other law, each Area Administrative Council will retain all the rights, interests, obligations and liabilities, which became vested in or attached to it under any contract or instrument, or on law or equity, all the time it was operating as a Local Government Area.

    “Subject to the provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act, the State Electoral Commission, LASIEC, shall divide each Local Government Area into such number of wards, not being less than twelve (12) or more than forty (40) as the circumstances of each Local Government Area may require,” the bill read.

    The proposed law, in Section 30, stated that the Governor shall have the right to suspend any Chairman or Vice Chairman or any elected official/political appointee, which it said shall at the expiration of such suspension resume office and shall notify the House upon resumption of office.

    The law however, repealed the Local Government Administration Law Ch L89 Laws of the Lagos State 2015 and the Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law, 2016.

    Stakeholders at the event, including His Royal Majesty, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Chairman of Odi Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon Rasak Ajala, a former commissioner in the state, Hon Oyinlomo Danmole and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, faulted some aspects of the bill.

    Specifically, Hon. Ajala faulted the law, saying that it would lead to underdevelopment in the grassroots.

    The Chairman stated that the financial autonomy granted local governments should not change anything in the arrangements in Lagos State, which he said was fought to the Supreme Court then.

    According to him, “even with LCDAs, the money meant for a particular area would be shared by the main local government and the LCDAs, so changing them to development areas would have no effect.

    “The Assembly should leverage on the powers conferred on them by Section 7 sub-section 1 of the Nigerian Constitution and allow the LCDAs to be,” he said.

    This was also the position of HRM, Oba Shotobi, who insisted that the LCDAs are aiding developments in the grassroots.

    In his comments, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro faulted the Assembly for not giving the public hearing proper publicity, saying that the problems in the local governments are deep and profound.

    “The public hearing is being done without due consultations. In a democratic setting, the people are more important. I can’t even see any leader of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), here. What we enjoyed as local governments chairmen are no longer there,” he said.

    The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, said earlier in his speech delivered by his Deputy, Hon Mojisola Meranda, that “we are gathered here to consider and reflect on a bill that seeks to further enhance how our third tier of Government should be administered.”

    Obasa recalled that just about two weeks back, people were also gathered to deliberate on the electoral bill for the Local government elections which he said is the first right step before the House could go into how the local government should function.

    “This Bill has passed the preliminary stages and the House is hereby subjecting it to public appraisal in our transparent convention. 

    “At this stage, we subject the bill to public assessment, gathering public observations and thoughts to reflect on them in the next stage of the bill.

    “The bill is seeking to consolidate all laws on Local Government administration. The law, when passed, will allow the local government function optimally with strict adherence to the rule of law and separation of powers within the Local Government. 

    “The bill clearly states the functions of the Chairman, Vice chairman, Legislative council and other local government functionaries.

    Read Also: Council sues Lagos Assembly

    “The Bill also makes emphasis on creation of thirty–seven Area administrative councils, in addition to the original twenty Local Government listed in the bill, the councils would be headed by Area administrative secretaries to be appointed subject to the approval of the House,” he said.

    The Speaker stressed that the bill also made mention of four years tenure for the elective offices in the local government, which he said has finally removed the ambiguity of the past as regards tenure of these elective officers.  

    The bill, he said, has elaborated upon all that needs to be done for an effective administration of the Local government be it, declaration of assets, nomination of a chairman, removal of a chairman or vice chairman, discharge of functions of the chairman, local government area supervisors appointees, Executive powers of the local government, street naming and many more.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Administration, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Hon Sanni Family Okanlawon, said that the purpose of the public hearing was to allow the people make meaningful contributions to the bill before it is passed into law by the assembly.

  • LG Autonomy: Alimosho Council sues Lagos Assembly, alleges unlawful interference

    LG Autonomy: Alimosho Council sues Lagos Assembly, alleges unlawful interference

    The Alimosho Local Government Council, Lagos has dragged the State House of Assembly before a Federal High Court, Abuja alleging undue and illegal interference in its activities.

    In a copy of the summon obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, the Council asks the court to hold that the Assembly and the Speaker has no constitutional power to perform oversight functions over its activities.

    The plaintiff urged the court to hold that the state assembly cannot act as oversight over a democratically elected executive of a local government that has its own democratically elected legislative council.

    Co-plaintiff in the suit is the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Sulaimon Jelili, while the respondents included the State Assembly, the Speaker, Attorney-General of Lagos State, Inspector-General of Police, Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the State Security Service.

    The plaintiffs, in the suit filed by their lawyer, Dr Abdul Mahmud said the essential kernel of the case was to assert the autonomy and independence of local governments, pursuant to the recent decision of the Supreme Court.

    “The point the suit emphasises is that local governments are not executive agencies of the Lagos state government that the Speaker, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, can exercise oversight functions over.

    “The local government, as a separate arm of government, has its legislative arm that rightly regulates those areas like markets that the Constitution has donated powers,” they contended

    On the facts of the suit, the plaintiffs alleged that the Assembly, led by Speaker Obasa, vide a resolution dated Aug. 27, instructed the Chairman of the local government to disengage one of the Council’s contractors, Mr. Omotolani Adedayo.

    Read Also: Don’t be ignorant of law, Lagos Assembly tells suspended chairman, lawyer

    Adedayo was contracted by the Council for collection of market tolls.

    In the resolution, the Assembly directed the Council that, after disengaging Adedayo, it should enter into a formal contractual agreement with one Mr. Ejigbadero Abiodun.

    The Speaker allegedly threatened that, if the Council Chairman refused to comply with the
    resolution and the directive of the house, he would be suspended.

    In an affidavit deposed to, by the Secretary of Alimoso Council, Dare Ogunkoya, he said, the Council Chairman is constitutionally saddled with the duties and functions for establishment, maintenance and regulation of markets, parks and garages within its jurisdiction.

    Ogunkoya said that his constituents had, on numerous occasions, approached the council that they did not want the said Abiodun, being imposed by the Assembly, to collect tolls in the market.

    He said the complaint by the constituents was communicated to the Assembly through a letter dated Sept. 4 by the plaintiffs.

    According to him, the action of the Assembly amounted to intimidation and usurpation of powers of the Council Chairman.

    The plaintiffs therefore sought the court declaration that, by the combined reading and interpretation of Sections 7 and Item 1(e) of the fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, they are the only body permitted by the constitution to establish, maintain and regulate markets within their jurisdiction.

    They sought the court declaration that the resolution of the Assembly is null and void for having no basis in law.

    The plaintiffs also urged the court to declare that the Assembly has no constitutional powers to suspend the Council Chairman.

    They urged the court to restrain the defendants from suspending the Council Chairman.

    Speaking with NAN, Mahmud, the plaintiffs lawyer said the court processes had been served on all the respondents, but no date has been fixed for its hearing.

    The lawyer noted that the resolution of the matter would set another precedent in the nation’s Jurisprudence, as it relates to Local Government autonomy.

    “The suit is coming on the heels of the recent Supreme Court decision in Suit No: SC/CV/343/2024 AG Federation V AG Abia State & 35 Ors which granted autonomy to local government.

    “The existence and independence of the Local Government is still under threat from various quarters.

    ‘The Court’s interpretation of the questions put before it, will further strengthen earlier decisions on the autonomy of local government” he said.

    Meanwhile, NAN reports that the House of Assembly on Monday suspended the embattled Council Chairman, indefinitely

    The decision, which was reportedly reached during Monday’s plenary session, came after lawmakers voted unanimously to remove Sulaimon over allegations of misconduct and defiance of the legislative House.

    The Vice Chairman of the Council, Mr. Akinpelu Johnson, was directed to assume control of the council’s affairs.

    Reacting to the development, however, Mahmud said the purported suspension of his client was unconstitutional and constituted blatant affront on the recent decision of the Supreme Court which affirmed the autonomy of local government under the 1999 Constitution.

    He added that the action of the legislative house and the Speaker, when they had been served with the court document, is subjudice, and a deliberate attempt to ambush and foist helplessness on the court.

    The lawyer assured that the coercive actions of the Speaker and the encroachment of the Assembly on the constitutional powers of the local government, would be resisted within the bounds of laws.(NAN)

  • Don’t be ignorant of law, Lagos Assembly tells suspended chairman, lawyer

    Don’t be ignorant of law, Lagos Assembly tells suspended chairman, lawyer

    – says law does not recognise sentiment, emotions

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has asked Jelili Sulaimon, the suspended chairman of Alimosho local government area, and his lawyer, Dr. Abdul Mahmud, to prioritize the rule of law over personal sentiments and emotions when considering legislative processes in the state.

    This statement from the Assembly, issued on Tuesday, October 8, came in response to their reaction to the suspension of the council chairman during Monday’s plenary session.

    In a statement signed by Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, chairman of the Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, the Assembly further advised Jelili to avoid interpreting laws based on personal views, emphasizing that the lawmakers are empowered to act in the public’s best interest when necessary.

     The statement read: “Jelili Sulaiman’s suspension backed by law. 

    “The attention of the Lagos State House of Assembly has been drawn to a statement  supposedly signed by Dr. Abdul Mahmud, counsel to the embattled Alimosho local government chairman, Mr. Jelili Sulaimon, claiming to condemn the unanimous agreement of the Assembly to suspend his client on Monday, October 7, 2024.

    “Beyond the sensational rhetoric and half-baked details in the statement that is replete with emotions rather than deep-thoughts, it is pertinent to break down the real situation and puncture arguments as to the powers of the House to suspend Mr. Jelili.

    “In his race to the public to ‘garner’ sentiments, Jelili’s lawyer forgot to remember that there are no local government areas that created themselves. In other words, the creation of a local government follows strict processes of the law and Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) creates the path to knowledge about this.

    “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to Section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.

    “Does this answer a question from the arguments of Jelili’s lawyer as to who has the power to create laws that regulate the activities of local government councils and their administration?

    “For better understanding, that section provides for the existence of: democratically elected system of Local Government to be guaranteed by a law of the State House of Assembly.

    “The same section provides that the House of Assembly is required to make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to Local Government Councils in a State. Section 8(3) highlights the procedure to be undertaken by a State House of Assembly in the creation of a new Local Government Area(s) in a State while Section 8(4) highlights the procedure to be undertaken by a State House of Assembly, through law, in the boundary adjustment of existing Local Government Areas.

    “Now, Section 162 (8) of the Constitution stipulates that a Law of the State House of Assembly shall provide for the distribution of monies standing to the credit of Local Government councils in a State.

    Read Also: Lagos Assembly suspends Alimosho chair indefinitely

    The statement further read: “Maybe we should remind him, his client and those travelling with him that Section 128 of the same Constitution further gives clarity to the powers of the House of Assembly.

    “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly shall have power by resolution published in its journal or in the office Gazette of the Government of the State to direct or cause to be directed an inquiry or

    investigation into –

    (a) any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make laws.

    “Here and based on the above constitutional provision, we are moved to ask again: who is legally guaranteed to make the law that creates the running of the local government? It is definitely not the National Assembly which is granted the constitutional powers to create states and not local governments.

    “This brings us to the Lagos State Local Government Administration Law (as amended) upon which the creation, administration and related activities of the local government system of Lagos State are based.

    “For better public information and effective knowledge, Section 24(a) of the amended law gives powers to the Lagos State House of Assembly to pass a resolution for the removal or suspension of any chairman, vice chairman, or official of any local government area (LGA) or local council development area (LCDA) after conducting an investigation. It states further that all that is needed for this resolution is a simple majority of the Assembly members. This emphasis is further highlighted in Section 5 of the law.

    “The amendment aims to ensure accountability and maintain order within the local government structure in Lagos State.

    “With this level of enlightenment as to the position of the laws guiding the administration of local government councils, it is further important to avoid misinformation or misrepresentation of the recent Supreme Court judgement concerning local governments in Nigeria. 

    “There is a marked difference between financial autonomy (upon which the lawyer’s argument rests) and administrative powers of the House. The rush to churn out a defence armed, albeit, with inferior understanding of the Supreme Court judgement does not give a sufficient case against the action of the House of Assembly.

    “The Local Government Administration law from which the council chairman and other elected officials of the local government system derive their powers is a product of the House of Assembly. The office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments that monitors the financial activities of this third tier of government is created by the law made by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    “The Local Government Service Commission which handles issues relating to the officials of local governments is a creation of the House of Assembly. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) that conducts elections into elective offices at the local government level is a creation of the House of Assembly. Therefore, jettisoning these facts will amount to a poor knowledge of the legislature. 

    “If you say the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have the power over local governments, it means all these laws created by the House should not be in place. If the laws should not be in place, then why would local governments exist?

    “We learnt that in a bid to protect the chairman, the councillors of the Alimosho Local Government Area hurriedly suspended the Vice Chairman, Akinpelu Johnson. To show how laughable this is, it is good to note that the law guiding them does not have a provision for suspension. 

    “The Local Government Administration law gives them the opportunity to remove a chairman or vice chairman but this also comes with a process. Thus, the suspension of Johnson is simply invalid. It is therefore necessary to remind the council leader that he can also be removed in line with the Local Government Administration law of Lagos State. If he does not know this, then, it is a pity.

    “For the few trying to juxtapose the functions of the National Assembly with those of the House of Assembly in this case, they should take a chill pill and request to be tutored. The National Assembly cannot interfere with the runnings of a State. It is not a part of its duty. On the other hand, the constitution grants the State House of Assembly powers over the local governments.

    “It is to be noted that this is not the first time the Lagos State House of Assembly would be suspending the same council chairman. In May 2021, he was suspended with two others by the House for their total disregard for the local government guidelines created by the State Legislature.

    “While we urge against mawkishness, we would also like to task residents of the council and members of the public not to allow themselves be swayed by positions and opinions that are opposite the law in this regard.”

  • Lagos Assembly suspends Alimosho chair indefinitely

    Lagos Assembly suspends Alimosho chair indefinitely

    Lagos State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman, Alimosho Local Government, Mr Sulaimon Jelili, indefinitely over alleged non-compliance and unyielding attitude to the legislature.

    At plenary yesterday, the House made the resolution through unanimous voice votes that the Vice Chairman, Mr Akinpelu Johnson, should take over running the affairs of the council.

    The Assembly further instructed the management of the council, including the manager and treasurer, to recognise the authority of the vice chairman and accord him support to make him work effectively.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in April, pandemonium broke out in Iyana-Ipaja axis of Alimosho Local Government, leading to the death of Mr Michael Ajayi.

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    The Chairman, House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Sanni Okanlawon, who investigated the cause of the pandemonium, moved the motion for the suspension.

    He said stakeholders involved in the issue were invited, but Jelili allegedly continued to show acts of misconduct to the committee of the House.

    Okanlawon alleged Jelili failed to adhere to the Assembly’s directives and his mismanagement of public funds.

    The committee chairman, therefore, called for Jelili’s suspension in line with relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    “He should be suspended immediately, while the vice chairman takes over with immediate effect,” he prayed.

    The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Noheem Adams, while supporting the call for Jelili’s suspension, added that the action would make other local government chairmen sit well.

    “The Alimosho council chairman does not follow procurement processes in the budget. There have been a lot of misconducts from him and I support that the chairman be suspended indefinitely,” he said.

    Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts for Local Government, Mr Nureni Akinsanya, referred to the report submitted by the state Auditor-General concerning the activities of Jelili.

    Akinsanya said the report allegedly underscored the council chairman’s consistent non-compliance with financial regulations, with significant irregularities in his records.

    Mr Ladi Ajomale expressed surprise that the council chairman had been recalcitrant despite previous reports detailing his alleged financial mismanagement.

    Mr Sa’ad Olumoh also prayed the House to invite Mr Kolade Alabi and Mr Rasak Ajala, chairmen of Bariga LCDA and Odi Olowo LCDA, as heads of the Conference 57, to explain the widespread disregard by council chairmen for governance protocols.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the sitting, directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, to communicate the Assembly’s resolution to relevant authorities.