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Tag: Lagos State House of Assembly

  • Lagos APC Assembly candidate escapes assassination

    All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kosofe constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Okanlawon (OKLA) narrowly escaped death at the weekend when suspected political thugs invaded his constituency office in Mende, Maryland.

    It was gathered the incident happened during the grand finale of the rally organised for him by youths to create awareness for his election on Saturday.

    Narrating his ordeal, Okanlawon said: “The rally was quite peaceful and we returned around 1pm with all my supporters dancing.

    “I had stepped out of the office with the intention of retiring home when the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s candidate for the constituency, Moyosore Ogunlewe stormed the area with busloads of thugs and two personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who were armed.”

     Okanlawon, who displayed two empty cartridges which he said were fired into his campaign office by the rampaging PDP thugs, explained NSCDC officers who accompanied Ogunlewe to the area started shooting sporadically without any provocation.

    Read also: APC has not suspended me, says Usani

    “Three people were hit by stay bullets with one of them sustaining serious gunshot wounds.

    “Aina Idowu, one of the boys that got hit is now at LASUTH receiving treatment.

    “I have reported the case at the Mende Police Station, and waiting for them to take the necessary action, if however, nothing happens, I have decided to petition the Inspector General of Police.

    “I learnt that one of the PDP thugs, Musiliu Osomo, who committed the dastardly act, was arrested by the Police on Saturday but was later released.

    “I’m still waiting for the police to invite the man behind the attack because we have eye witnesses who identified Moyosore Ogunlewe as the one who led the onslaught,” he said.

    According to the former Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Food Security, such violent attack has never happened in the constituency, “this is the height of gansterism, and we shall not allow such behaviours to go unpunished.”

    Mother of one of the victims, who sustained gunshot wounds, Mrs. Florence Aina, called on the police to investigate the attacks.

    She said Mende has always enjoyed relative peace until the PDP thugs invaded on Saturday.

    She said shops were looted during the attack and several gunshots fired into a church nearby.

    “The government must do something about this because the election is just few days away, apart from providing adequate security, the police must make sure all those behind the attack are arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrents,” she said.

    All attempts to get the reaction of Ogunlewe failed on Sunday.

    He neither picked calls to his mobile nor replied to SMS.

  • Support Buhari to build a stronger country –Lawmaker tells Atiku, others

    Chairman of the Public Accounts (State) Committee of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Moshood Oshun, has admonished Atiku Abubakar and other opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari, to see how they can support the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next four years to build a stronger nation.

    Oshun, who reacted to President Buhari’s victory at the polls as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noted that Nigeria has several challenges before it, adding that it is the time for leaders and followers to unite ahead of the next four years.

    Noting that Buhari has remained magnanimous in victory, Oshun urged the opposition to congratulate the winner of the election and support the move to build a Nigeria of everyone’s dream.

    He congratulated the president and the APC for the victory, describing it as well deserved.

    The lawmaker also commended the co-chairman of the Buhari campaign council, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and all the various groups who championed the battle for the success of the APC at the polls.

    He expressed optimism that the next four years would make better impacts on the lives of Nigerians, arguing that the government would simply continue from where it would end the current dispensation.

    “Currently, the government has made several marks on various sectors of the country including agriculture and physical infrastructures. It is, therefore, going to be a smooth continuation of already planned goals,” he said.

  • Lagos budget: Executive, legislators meet to find common ground

    The face-off between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the Lagos State House of Assembly over the 2019 budget of the state may soon be resolved as efforts have commenced by both parties to find a common ground for the impasse.

    Sequel to this a committee set up by the Assembly headed by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade met the executive team led by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Idiat Adebule at the Assembly premises on Friday for a meeting to resolve the on-going crisis between the executive and the legislature amicably.

    Other members of the Committee are: Hons. Moshood Oshun, Dayo Saka Fafunmi, Lanre Ogunyemi, Mojisola Lasbat Miranda

    The meeting was confirmed by sources close to the committee, as the sources said it is part of an agreement to ensure that actions are taken in the interest of the state.

    The Lagos state House of Assembly had recently given Governor Akinwunmi Ambode a seven-day ultimatum to appear before the lawmakers and answer to allegations of misconduct and infractions in relation to the 2018 and the 2019 budgets.

    The House has also warned that if the infractions on the budget continues the House would be forced to constitutional sanction on the government which is impeachment.

    The threat, however, led to a massive protest by admirers of the Governor to the Assembly on Thursday calling on the lawmakers to shelve the impeachment plan and let Ambode be followed by a press briefing by a coalition of civil society groups condemning the move by the Assembly and threatening to shut down the Assembly of the action is not halted.

    The current reconciliatory effort may not be unconnected with these public reactions and concerns by the party leadership over possible backlash of such actions with election is just few weeks away.

    The committee, it was learnt, met with some commissioners on Thursday.

    “Our people have also met with the deputy governor over the current friction. The meeting is just to find an amicable ground.

    “We know the executive arm actually committed the infractions, but for the interest of the state and to keep it safe ahead of the election, we have to look for a soft landing for them,” the source said on Friday afternoon.

    It was learnt that the outcome of the meeting may be deliberated at a parliamentary session when the lawmakers reconvene.

    The lawmakers had alleged that the governor had begun spending the 2019 budget that is yet to be presented to the House as demanded by the constitution and that the governor spent outside the 2018 budget without recourse to the House.

  • 2019: Leaders should be compassionate – Lagos Assembly aspirant

    A candidate for the 2019 Lagos State House of Assembly election, Tosin Akande has said that leadership at all fronts should be compassionate.

    He explained that leaders should be able to provide social amenities like good roads, water, electricity and others.

    Akande said this in an interview with The Nation.

    The Lagos Assembly aspirant under YES party said that he is concerned about the moral decadence in the society and he is determined to correct the anomaly.

    “I am more concerned about the issue of the ordinary man on the street, parent, teachers, government and even churches have neglected their roles. Most young people are misguided and there should be someone to put them back on track.”

    Quoting a verse from the Bible, Akande said that everyone is guilty of moral decadence, but he is keen on his decision of righting the wrong.

    “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God but regardless, I am strongly of the opinion that morality must prevail once again in Nigeria.”

    If voted into office, Akande promised to put the plight of old people, pregnant women, children and other vulnerable people into consideration.

    Read Also: Lagos relaunches marriage registries

    Speaking on his plans to rejuvenate sporting activities in Lagos state, he said; “Lagos Mainland is known for sporting excellence in the past, producing athletes for the national competition, but  things are not the same as compared to what is obtainable now because most young people are into drugs, but we are here to change the narrative.”

    , he said he will put the plight of old people, pregnant women, children and other vulnerable people into consideration.

    Akande said that Lagos Mainland is known for sporting excellence in the past, producing athletes for the national, however, things are not the same “Compared to the sporting activities of these days that young people do with drugs, we are here to change the narrative.”

    According to him, the unregistered local governments in Lagos State will be put to light if he is given a chance in the house of assembly. He asserted that the twenty local governments in Lagos state are not complete, as he would endeavor to recognize the thirty-seven others

  • Lagos Assembly decries traffic jam, urges Ambode to intervene

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday decried the congestion of Sekunmade Road in Ikorodu area of Lagos by heavy duty trucks, urging Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to intervene.

    The House called on Ambode to direct the Commissioner for Transport, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), management of Ipakodo Lighter Terminal to eliminate indiscriminate parking of long vehicles on the road.

    The Assembly also called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to provide where long vehicles would park before they load goods from the terminal.

    The resolution followed a matter raised by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu Constituency 1) and supported by Mr Segun Olulade (Epe Constituency 2) under Matter of Urgent Public Importance on Thursday.

    Agunbiade had condemned the indiscriminate parking of heavy duty trucks on Sekunmade Road, Ikorodu, which he said was one of the two roads leading to Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

    “The road is an important access road to Imota, Ijede and others. The roads around the lighter terminal in Ipakodo have become an eyesore.

    “The long vehicles always block the road and they would be there for days. They don’t even have security light that would prevent accident.

    “That was how it started in Apapa area of Lagos before it became an eyesore,” Agunbiade said.

    The lawmaker said that it was important for the Commissioner for Transport to review the law on movement of vehicles, while also calling on leaders of LASTMA to rise to the occasion on the matter.

    He said that Public Works should be called upon to repair the roads, which had become dilapidated.

    Also speaking, Mr Rotimi Olowo (APC- Somolu I),  noted that Ipakodo Sekumade Road was very strategic to Ikorodu.

    Read Also: Ambode hails union leaders for industrial harmony

    He said that it would not be fair to allow vehicles to block the road.

    Olowo said that companies should be cautioned with the way their vehicles were parked in the area.

    In his contribution, Mr Segun Olulade (APC- Epe II), said that the area was strategic to Epe.

    Mr Nurudeen Saka-Solaja (APC- Ikorodu II) said the road had become waterlogged.

    He said that trailers and containers parked indiscriminately were also causing a lot of problems for the people.

    “What is happening in Sekunmade is not right. There are traffic control officers in Ikorodu West Local Government that can do the job.

    “We should fine anyone that parks vehicles there indiscriminately,”Mr Tobun Abiodun (APC-Epe I) added.

    The Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa,  directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni, to communicate the resolution of the House on the matter to Ambode.

  • Lagos Assembly decries congestion at Sekumade, Ikorodu Road

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has decried the congestion at Sekumade Road in Ikorodu area of Lagos caused by heavy duty trucks.
    The House has therefore called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to call on the Commissioner for Transport, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), management of Ipakodo Lighter Terminal to put a stop to indiscriminate parking of long vehicles on the road.
    The Assembly also called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to provide a place where long vehicles would park before they load goods from the terminal.
    Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to get across to the Governor on the resolution of the House on the matter.
    The matter was raised by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu Constituency 1) under Matter of Urgent Public Importance at plenary on Thursday.
    Agunbiade condemned the indiscriminate parking of heavy duty trucks in Sekumade Road, Ikorodu, which he said was one of the two roads that leads to Ikorodu.
    “The road is an important access road to Imota, Ijede and others. The roads around the lighter terminal in Ipakodo has become an eyesore.
    “The long vehicles always block the road and they would be there for days. They don’t even have security light that would prevent accident. That was how it started in Apapa Area of Lagos before it became an eyesore,” he said.
    The Majority Leader stated that it was important that the Commissioner for Transport should review the law on movement of vehicles, while also calling on leaders of LASTMA to rise to the occasion on the matter.

    Read Also: Lagos okays hijab on school uniforms

    He added that Public Works should be called upon to repair the roads, which he said has been destroyed by the long vehicles.
    In his contribution, Hon. Rotimi Olowo said that the Ipakodo Sekumade Road is very important, adding that it would not be fair to allow vehicles to block the road.
    He stated that companies like Dangote should also be cautioned with the way their vehicles are parked in the area and that the matter should be nipped in the bud now.
    Also speaking, Hon. Olusegun Olulade (Epe Constituency 1) said that the area is strategic to Epe, saying that other roads are always blocked, and that Sekumade road that can not contain two vehicles is now totally blocked.
    In his view, Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja (Ikorodu Constituency 2) stated that the road is waterlogged, and that trailers and containers that are parked there are causing a lot of problems for the people.
    Hon. Ibrahim Layode however stated that the people of the area and the state should not be complaining as they always pray for improvement in commercial activities.
    “So we should not be complaining. The problem starts from the government, we wanted light terminals without providing where the trucks would park. We are not doing what would give us money. The law enforcement agencies cannot help matters. The local governments ought to provide parking spaces for the vehicles,” he said.
    Hon. Abiodun Tobun from Epe Constituency 1, in his contribution, suggested that people should not be allowed to do whatever they like in the state.
    “What is happening in Sekunmade is not right. There are traffic control officers in Ikorodu West Local Government that can do the job. We should fine anyone that parks vehicles there indiscriminately. Whoever refuses to do so should have his vehicle impounded,” he said.

  • Assembly passes tourism bill into law

    Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday at plenary passed into law, a bill to promote, market and develop the state domestically and internationally as a major tourist destination.

    The law titled, ‘A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment  of the Lagos State Tourism Promotion Agency and for Connected Purposes’, is also to highlight the uniqueness of the state and assist the development of its tourism products and services.

    The law is to also among others “develop and promote the state as a premier travel and tourist destination; attract and increase tourist arrivals and direct tourism investment and identify and develop potential tourism destination.

    “It is to maximise the economic and social benefits of tourism; encourage and promote improved standards of tourist establishments, facilities,

    attractions and services offered to tourists.

    Read also: Lagos Assembly calls for caution on ‘Operation Velvet’

    “It is to enhance revenue generation for the state in the tourism sector; increase employment opportunity in the tourism sector and encourage active Public Private Partnership in the development of tourism.”

    The agency is also to formulate and implement campaigns and other strategies to promote the state locally and internationally as a major tourist destination; as well as facilitate the creation of investment opportunities for

    tourism development by focusing on beach and leisure, culture and

    heritage, arts and entertainment, nature and adventure, wellness and

    medical tourism among others.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directed the Clerk, Mr. Azeez Sanni, to forward a clean copy of the bill to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for assent.

     

  • 2019 Elections: Don’t sit back, Lagos lawmaker charges women

    A Lagos lawmaker, Mrs Mojisola Meranda, on Monday appealed to Nigerian women to participate actively in the 2019 electoral process rather than sit back and watch.

    Meranda, one of the four female lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly, told our reporters in Lagos that women should be involved in the electoral process.

    The lawmaker, representing Apapa Constituency I, said that women should develop interest in the electoral process and government to protect their interests in governance.

    “We should not sit down and fold our hands resting on 35 or 40 per cent affirmative action for women representation in government. This will not come easily.

    “Let us also play our roles. We shouldn’t rely on any per cent to be given to women. Let us come out and support ourselves.

    “Women should not sit back and think someone will bring it to them. We must be active politically and aspire for political offices.

    Read Also: Man jumps into Lagos lagoon

    “All I want is that female folks should be ready to take the bull by the horn in 2019.

    “Let them come out as nobody will go to their houses to draw them,” she said.

    On fears of most women about politics, the lawmaker said that there was no profession without its hazards,

    She noted women should contribute their quota to nation building.

    Meranda, who is the Chairman, House Ad hoc Committee on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviations, said that courage, determination and discipline would help them prevail in the face of all challenges.

    “Nothing comes easy. Nigerian women must give it a trial and give it a push in 2019.

    “I am pushing for more women representation in government, more female colleagues here (Lagos Assembly) and outside here,” the lawmaker said.

    According to her, I have been encouraging many women to be more active and pick interest in the decision-making processes in the state.

    Gender balance in government has been a major subject of interest as the 2019 general elections approach.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also embarked on several advocacies and sensitizations on inclusive governance that would involve women participation.

    NAN

  • True federalism panacea to Nigeria’s security challenges – Lawmaker

    True federalism panacea to Nigeria’s security challenges – Lawmaker

    The Deputy Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Olumuyiwa Jimoh, on Monday said that entrenchment of true federalism would address the nation’s security and other challenges.

    Jimoh, representing Apapa Constituency II at the Assembly, told the newsmen in Lagos that the current system had not made effective and efficient security possible.

    According to him, security of the nation can only improve if the federating states are empowered through devolution of powers.

    “As we see new acts of bombing, kidnapping especially in the North East, this shows everything is not well and we must not pretend as if things are all right.

    “So, we need to intensify efforts in improving our security by entrenching true federalism. We must address our federalism. In true federalism, states are being empowered.

    “The present federalism is affecting our security because there is no adequate security that can be provided for the people by the central government alone.

    “The entire Nigeria Police Force is not up to 200, 000 and we have 36 states. The population of Lagos alone is about 22 million, how can people be well policed?” the lawmaker asked.

    READ ALSO: Does true federalism guarantee true democracy?

    According to him, the Boko Haram problem, which should be a local one for the police to handle, has become a matter for the army and the air force who are supposed to defend the country against foreign invasion.

    Jimoh urged the federal government to beef up security on the nation’s waters, to check illegal entry into the country.

    The lawmaker, who noted that there had been major robbery incidents through the waterways, said it was unfortunate that the FG and Lagos State were in court on who controls the waterways.

    On the role of citizens in security, the lawmaker said they had a duty to provide information to the police and other agencies.

    “As citizens too, we have not been able to do our responsibility in the area of providing intelligence information as and when due to the security agents.

    “An average individual in the western world, when he sees something strange or new, alerts the police and other security agents so that before it gets out of hand, the security agents are on top of it.

    “But this does not happen here,” he said.

    Jimoh urged government across levels to focus on education, employment and youth development to tackle the growing rate of insecurity. NAN

  • Lagos Assembly explains absence at constitutional review

    Lagos Assembly explains absence at constitutional review

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Friday advanced reasons it did not participate in voting on constitution alteration bills in the ongoing constitution review by the National Assembly.

    The Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr Olumuyiwa Jimoh, told our reporter in Lagos that late arrival of correspondence of the National Assembly was one of the reasons.

    Jimoh said: “The Speaker of the House,  Mr Mudashiru Obasa,  is out of the country for an educational Summit in Finland.

    “We are all aware that Finland has one of the best educational systems, but it doesn’t conduct examinations.

    “The Lagos House of Assembly is understudying how Finland is going about it to improve our own educational system.

    “Secondly, the correspondence from the National Assembly for the Constitution Amendment came in late,” he said.

    He said that the Assembly received the correspondence on Wednesday for the programme slated for Thursday.

    “When you have a meeting slated for Thursday in a place as far as Abuja,  and you are bringing in a correspondence to that effect on Wednesday, I think it is uncalled for.

    “These are the reasons, but as soon as the speaker is back, we will respond to the issue officially and appropriately,” he added.

    States Houses of Assembly under the auspices of the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly on Thursday transmitted passed constitution alteration bills to the National Assembly in the ongoing Constitution Review exercise.

    Thirty-four of the 36 states of the federation voted on the 29 bills transmitted to them, but Lagos and Rivers states were absent.

    Of the 29 bills, 15 were passed, including the ‘Not Too YoungTo Run’ bill which seeks to reduce the ages of contestants for the office of the president, governor and National Assembly members.

    The bill to give independence to state Houses of Assembly was also passed, while the states rejected autonomy for local government.

    The Chairman of the Conference of Speakers, Mr Abdulmumin Kamba, said that the rejection of devolution of powers by the National Assembly was condemned by the state Assemblies.

    NAN