The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State House of Assembly

  • Lagos Assembly proffers measures to enhance security

    Lagos Assembly proffers measures to enhance security

    Lagos State House of Assembly has proffered some measures to enhance the state’s security owing to the nation’s prevailing situation.

    The House at its plenary called yesterday on Governor Babatunde Fashola to direct all relevant agencies of government to urgently extend the installation of computer-based Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance cameras being monitored by the Lagos State Emergency Command Centre to all major markets, motor parks and other public places.

    The House also urged the governor to aggressively pursue the process of residents’ registration in order to create a veritable database of Lagosians.

    These were part of the resolutions of the House sequel to a motion on “Strengthening security measures in Lagos State” co-sponsored by Balogun Abdulbaq (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 2), Agunbiade Sanai (Ikorodu 1), Omisore Ipoola (Ifako/Ijaye 2), Ogunyemi Lanre, (Ojo 2), Tobun Abiodun (Epe 1), Olulade Segun (Epe 2) and (Tejuoso Adefunmilayo).

    The House also urged the governor “to take over all abandoned properties for overriding public interest in the state after issuing necessary notices; and discourage the assemblage of abandoned vehicles in our residential and industrial areas.”

    It also called for the strengthening of the operations of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and the Neighbourhood Watch for effective performance in crime prevention, monitoring and control and for them to collate information of abandoned projects in their various communities and submit same to the government for necessary action.

     

  • Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge: Lagos Assembly summons commissioner, SA over tolling

    THE Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and Special Adviser to the governor on Public Private Partnership (PPP), Mr Ayo Gbeleyi, to explain the proposed concession and tolling on the new Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge.

    The duo is expected to appear in the House on Thursday, June 6, 2013.

    Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, at a late plenary on Friday, said the House could not take a stand on the matter without clarification from the relevant public officials.

    Debate and several parliamentary sessions on the proposal began on Tuesday last week when the proposal from the Executive was first read on the floor of the House.

    Meanwhile, the House has passed a resolution approving the sum of N427, 766, 633, 079k from the State Infrastructure Intervention Fund (SIIF) for the procurement of two units of Communication Infrastructure and Direction Finder Equipment.

    Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akhabueze, had earlier sought approval for the sum, saying that the procurement is important to enhance security in the state.

    The lawmakers had on Tuesday expressed their displeasure with the concession and tolling on the new bridge, following the state government’s proposal seeking the “Ratification of the electronic tolling system operation, maintenance, concession terms and conditions for the Lekki-Ikoyi toll bridge.”

    The lawmakers are raising posers on why the state government should toll a bridge built with tax payers’ money.

    Hon. Rotimi Olowo, representing Shomolu I Constituency, had suggested that the House invite the Special Adviser on PPP and Commissioner for Works to explain details of the concession, coupled with prohibition of some vehicles from plying the bridge.

  • Lagos Assembly directs ministry to reinstate Aregbesola

    Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have directed the Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe and Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to re-instate Mr. Yekini Aregbesola into the service of (SUBEB) and his salary be paid from December 2011 till date.

    The House gave the directive at plenary following recommendation of the Committee on Establishment, Training, Petitions and Public Service which looked into a petition earlier sent to the House by Aregbesola.

    Presenting the report of the Committee on the floor of the House, Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji- Edet recommended that Mr. Aregbesola should be re-instated into the service to enable him collect his retirement benefits.

    According to Olatunji-Edet, the petition titled “Unlawful termination of appointment by Lagos State Polytechnic” was forwarded to the House 10th July, 2012 and series of meetings which involved the Rector, Lagos Poly, Executive Secretary (SUBEB), Special Adviser on education and the petitioner, Mr. Aregbesol had been held.

  • Council inaugurates projects

    Council inaugurates projects

    he member representing Amuwo-Odofin State Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ramotalai Akinlola-Hassan has praised the chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area Hon. Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi for his commitment to the welfare of the people.

    Hon. Akinlola-Hassan, who gave the commendation while inaugurating some projects completed by the council, said that the various people-oriented projects which the council chairman executed demonstrate deep dedication to the well-being of the people.

    She urged the council chief not to relent in his efforts to bring development to all the nook and cranny of the council area, even as she advised the residents to reciprocate government’s keenness to better their lives by paying their taxes and levies promptly. This, she said, would enable the council to provide more amenities for them.

    She also advised them to protect the facilities so far provided for their well-being because, she said, if the amenities are located in their areas are allowed to be vandalised, it would make life miserable for them.

    Some of the projects she inaugurated were the Abija Road constructed with interlocking stones, borehole at Police Barracks Satellite Town, Ibaasa Jetty, and presentation of official cars to some council functionaries, among others.

    In his speech earlier, Hon. Sanusi had said that the focus of his administration is to evolve policies and programmes that would touch the lives of the people in a more rewarding way, even as he promised that his administration will carry out more development projects in all the nook and cranny of the council.

    He said: “Since the inception of this administration, we have painstakingly targeted and rolled out those projects that we believe would impact most positively on the lives of the people.

    “We are committed to ensuring that our people’s well-being is paramount in our conception and execution of projects.”

    While pleading to the people for their continued supports to government’s policies and programmes, the council chief said: “The benefiting communities of these projects should regard them as their personal belongings by protecting them jealously. The council will roll out more life-touching projects.”

    Hon. Sanusi appealed to the private sector to help the council in its determination to develop the area.

    He noted: “It is a fact that government alone cannot provide all our infrastructural needs. We therefore appeal to the private sector to partner with government in providing the much-needed amenities to our people. We also urge the private sector to be alive to their corporate social responsibilities.”

    Judged by the numerous development projects which the council had completed and inaugurated recently, stakeholders have unanimously agreed that the council chairman has shown sufficient commitment to fulfilling his promises to the people.

    At the inauguration of Abija Road, Hon. Sanusi expressed his happiness for the opening ceremony which he said was a manifestation of the enduring commitment of his administration to serve the people in a more rewarding manner.

    He recalled that Abija Road was in a deplorable condition, even as he said that the plight of the people compelled him to construct the road.

    Sanusi said: “In view of the over-riding need to assuage the plight of the people, we embarked on the construction of the road whose opening ceremony we have here today. The very poor soil and sub-soil condition of the terrain informed our use of the expensive interlocking stone paving.”

    While gathered declaring the facility open, Hon. Akinlola-Hassan expressed her satisfaction with the level of development in the area, which she attributed to the council chairman’s uncompromising commitment to making life bearable for the people.

    After the inauguration ceremony, some Area Boys accosted the chairman of the council. They eulogised him with the aim of receiving some money from him. He gave the some money and they reacted in a very uncomplimentary manner, claiming that the money he gave them was small compared to the millions of Naira he spent on the official cars for the council’s functionaries.

    They converged on the council secretariat and became hostile to the extent of attempting to fight the staff. They demanded the sum of N200, 000. The council chairman had to sneak away when situation became awry.

  • ‘Landscaping of perimeter areas now compulsory’

    ‘Landscaping of perimeter areas now compulsory’

    IT is now an offence for property owners and occupiers not to landscape and beautify the perimeter areas of such houses, according to a law posted by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    TheLagos State Parks and Gardens Agency Act is the outcome of a bill initiated by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    At the handing over of the agency to its management team in Alausa, Ikeja, Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello said the law was part the state’s effort to meet its environmental challenges in line with global international best practice.

    About 128 landscaped gardens and 14 gardens were handed over to the management of LASPARK, headed by Olukunle David-Sotade.

    Bello said his ministry was positioned for policy promulgation and not implementation, which puts it in the best position to deliver on its mandate.

    The commissioner, however, stressed that adequate public enlightenment would be embarked on before full enforcement of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Law No. 13, of 2011.

    ”It is now mandatory for tenement owners and occupiers to landscape and beautify the perimeter areas of their property. Violation of this shall warrant the penalty of N250,000 or such sums as the state shall incur in doing same on behalf of the tenement, or six-month imprisonment or other non-custodial sentence.

    “The law stipulates a fine not exceeding N50,000 or one year imprisonment or other non-custodial sentences for any person or corporate body found felling or trimming trees in the state without obtaining the required permit from LASPARK,” Bello said.

    He said state agencies numbering about 89 will help the ministries to formulate proper policies and carry out their oversight functions more effectively.

    Also prohibited are walking on lawns/gardens, spitting, urinating or defecating in parks, gardens or open spaces, and loitering in any park, among others.

    Some of the functions of LASPARK, according to him, are administering, maintaining and managing designated parks and gardens. The agency is also expected to charge appropriate fees for the use of facilities provided where necessary, carry out the directives and policies of the government in respect of the development, maintenance and management of parks, recreation centres, gardens, playing grounds and open spaces, and promote afforestation, among others.

    David-Sotade promised to improve on the work already done on the parks and gardens across the state, even as he sought the cooperation of Lagosians to enable him and his team deliver on the job and its responsibilities.

    He said the idea is to collaborate with all sectors of the economy by aligning the agency’s corporate goals with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) on the environment and the economy.