Tag: Lagos State House of Assembly

Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the state government to take action against scavenging and manhole theft, which have become a menace.

The call was made during a plenary session presided over by Speaker Lasbat Meranda.

The lawmakers urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources to enforce the Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017, and apply sanctions against scavenging-related violations.

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Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti-Osa 2 Constituency, who brought the attention of the assembly to the menace, said: ‘’These infrastructure, including construction of roads with underground ducts, iron-cast manhole covers and bridges with steel safety rails, among others, are designed to enhance the quality of life of residents by providing safety for road users, reducing traffic congestion on highways, preventing loss of productive man-hours, drainage systems to prevent flooding and improving the overall road network system in the state.

He said: “If this trend is not swiftly curtailed, issues such as destruction of critical road infrastructure, increase in road accidents due to open manholes and damaged railings, blocked drainage systems, leading to flooding, would bring significant setback in the state’s infrastructural development efforts put in place by the government.”

The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The Speaker is second in line of succession to the Lagos State governorship, after the Deputy Governor. The Speaker also represents the members of their constituency.

The Lagos State Assembly was inaugurated on 2nd October 1979 by Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, with thirty-six (36) members.

The first Assembly started legislative duties from a temporary site at Nos. 1-2, Oduduwa Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, before moving to the permanent site at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, in 1980.

The Assembly completed its full term of four years from 1979 to 1983.

The thirty-six (36) members of the Second Assembly were inaugurated on 2nd October 1983 by Alhaji Lateef Jakande, while members elected a lawyer, Hon. Oladimeji Longe (Itire-Ikate), as Speaker. Alhaji Bola Kotun, who served as Clerk of the House in the first Assembly, remained the Clerk.

The Assembly was barely three months old when it was truncated by the coup d’état of 31 December 1983. The military remained in power for nine (9) years, during which Lagos State was ruled by Military Administrators.

The House of Assembly is entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the activities of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) through committees. These committees conduct semi-annual and annual inspections of the records of MDAs to ensure they comply with the rules and laws.

Since the inauguration of the State House of Assembly in 1979, there have been 9 legislative assemblies, with 8 representatives holding the office of Speaker.

Here is a full list of the speakers:

1. Hon. Oladosu Oshinowo (Ikorodu II) 1979-1983

2. Hon. Oladimeji Longe (Itire-Ikate) 1983

3. Hon. (Alhaji) Shakirudeen Abayomi Kinyomi (Ojo1) 1992-1993

4. Adeleke Mamora (1999-2003)

5. Waheed Jokotola Pelumi (2003 – 2005)

6. Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji (2005 – 2015)

7. Mudashiru Obasa (2015 – 2025)

8. Mojisola Meranda (2025 – till date)

Lagos State House of Assembly has renewed its call on the National Assembly and executive to grant the state special economic status in the ongoing constitutional review.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Stephen Ogundipe, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday.

He noted that over the years, there had been agitations for special status for the state, being the country’s economic nerve centre.

The lawmaker said the state deserved special status, being the former capital of Nigeria with much federal infrastructure and a huge population.

Ogundipe said the resources of the state could not adequately cater for its population of over 22 million Nigerians from different regions and the pressure on amenities.

He said: “Lagos is generally regarded as a special state in Nigeria for various reasons. First, it was the capital of the federation until December 12, 1991, when Abuja was made Nigeria’s capital.

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“Secondly, Lagos has been so critical to the economic development of the country that it is generally regarded as the economic or commercial capital of Nigeria or even West Africa.

“The state plays host to many economic and strategic agencies, including critical revenue organs.

“The most viable international airport is located in the state as well as the two most viable seaports in the country, accounting for over 90 per cent of all maritime trade.

“It is the main gateway to the country and the centre of financial services, being the most viable capital of the money and capital markets in the country.

“Also, the collectible tax profile of the state for federal and state is second to none in the country, with the state being the largest single contributor of the now contentious Value Added Tax in the country, relative to other states and the Federal Capital Territory.”

The lawmaker, who described the state as a national asset, said the benefits of Lagos transcended Southwest region of the country, as all Nigerians enjoyed the state’s prosperity in one way or the other.

Ogundipe says Lagos needs legislative backing, through the National Assembly, to attain special status.

NAN recalls that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently requested that the state be given one per cent in the revenue allocation formula.

He said the economic status of the state and its prosperity directly or indirectly had multiplying effects on the Southwest and the entire country..

Lagos council chairmen, under the aegis of Conference 57, have urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to reconsider the creation of Area Administrative Councils in replacement of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the proposed Local Government Administration Bill.

According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the General-Secretary of Conference 57, Mr Rasaq Ajala, made the call in an interview on Friday on the sidelines of a public hearing organised by the Assembly in Ikeja.

The Assembly, on Thursday, during a public hearing, had considered replacing the current 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) with Area Administrative Councils in the state.

Ajala, who is the Executive Chairman, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA in the state, said the assembly should reconsider its proposal to replace the present LCDA with the Area Administrative Council.

 The council chairman said the  Assembly and the Executive should, rather, channel all energy and resources into ensuring that the 37 LCDAs were listed in the constitution.

He noted that while waiting for the listing of the 37, executive and the assembly should continue to maintain the present 57 local government structures.

 Ajala noted that the grassroots development the people of the state were enjoying today in the state was made possible because of the additional 37 LCDAs.

“The position of the Conference 57 on the issue is very clear that the creation of the 37 LCDAs is a product of the Constitution and to that extent, the Assembly should allow it to stay.

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“You will recall that when these Local Council Development Areas were created by President Bola Tinubu, when he was the governor of Lagos State, the state was taken to court. We dragged the matter up to the Supreme Court.

“The pronouncement of the Supreme Court then was very clear. They have given validity. They believe that the process we took was legal.

“So to that extent, we believe that we have not done anything that is unconstitutional by creating the 37.

“We’ve not done anything that is illegal and this is a system that has been working for years,” he said.

Ajala said Conference 57 strongly believed that the House was doing well in ensuring the state remained the number one state in the country.

• House: law does not recognise sentiment

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) yesterday called on the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) to hands-off issues relating to Alimosho Local Government.

The groups, comprising Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA); Campaign Against Impunity; Centre for Economics and Human Right Advancement and Ideal Society Advocacy Group among others, at a news briefing in Akoka, urged the LAHA to embrace the ruling of the Supreme Court and ensure its effective implementation, thereby creating an environment where local governments can thrive.

Speaking on behalf of the groups, HURMA Executive Director, Comrade Isiak Buna, called on the assembly to allow lawmakers in Alimosho Local Government deal with issue relating to their council.

He said: “Alimosho and other local governments in the state are not appendage of the State Assembly. They are independent tiers of government enshrined in our constitution and recently authoritatively pronounced by the Supreme Court.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as governors and political leaders, to ensure the autonomy secured through the ruling of the Supreme Court is implemented in full. It is imperative that local government officials are empowered to perform their duties effectively, free from undue interference and control from higher levels of government. Political leaders, particularly the leadership of state assemblies and the governors with vested interests, must recognise that local governments are not mere extensions of state authority, but rather autonomous entities that are vital to fostering development, enhancing accountability and improving service delivery to our citizens.’’

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

Comrade Shina Loremikan of Campaign Against Impunity said the decisive action of Governor Sanwo-Olu in safeguarding the independence of local governance was commendable and reflected a commitment to democratic principles and the well-being of the people of Lagos State.

LAHA Chairman, Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, said law does not recognise sentiment and emotions.

According to Ogundipe, there are no local government areas that created themselves.

He said: “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. 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.’’