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Tag: Lagos State House of Assembly

  • Legislation made easy for councilors

    Nineteen years on, local government administration in the country is been seen as less impactful on the citizens compared to state and federal governments. As part of efforts to empower human capacity especially in legislation at local government level, a new book titled The Councillors Aid by Mrs Olubukola Abioye Ogunsola has been published.

    According to the author who is a lawyer, the desire to write the book came during her assignment at the Lagos State House of Assembly as a staff of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

    ‘When I left private practice and joined Lagos State Ministry of Justice, I was posted to a department where I was always going to the House of Assembly. And I was there for like over eight years. I was part of those assigned to monitor the proceedings of the legislative arm and report to the governor. So that informed me about the legislative arm of government.

    Shortly after that I did my masters on legislative draft. It was during that time that I came up with the ideal of writing this book because most of the councilors are not well informed, they don’t really know what they are suppose to do in their office,” she said.

    Understanding the need for some councilors to assimilate provisions of the law better as well as informing them on the essence of their trade, Olubukola said she wrote the five chapters hand book for local government legislators in a language that is simply and easy to assimilate.

    “To make it easier for anyone to understand, I have to remove the legal jargons in for easier understanding. The essence of the book is to reduce the ignorance of some councilors and make them abreast of what they are supposed to do rather than just groping in the dark. The book will give them information on what to do statutorily according to the provisions of the 1999 constitution,” she added.

    However, the book, which was published in 2015, will be made available to as many Lagos councils’ legislators as possible.

    Mrs Ogunsola works at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice as Chief State Counsel.

  • 2018 budget will be passed next week, Obasa assures

    2018 budget will be passed next week, Obasa assures

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has assured that the House would pass the 2018 budget for the state and send same to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his signature next week.
    Obasa gave the assurance yesterday at plenary  while commenting on the timely presentation of budget report by the Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, on the 2018 Appropriation Bill, Hon. Yishawu Gbolahan.

    Read also: Lagos Assembly set to review Land Use charge law

    Gbolahan presented the report on the floor of the House at plenary yesterday.

    The speaker said: “I really appreciate the commitment and dedication in meeting up with the time set and you have been able to turn in the report.

    “For your commitment, thank you very much and I am sure with this we can by this week or next week return the budget back to the Governor next week for the people of Lagos”.

    According to him, the House went for a little break to allow the committee do the work in order to return the budget in good time.

    The seven-man Ad-hoc committee was set up on December 18 to scrutinize the state’s N1.046 trillion budget proposal.

    Ambode presented the proposed Budget of Progress and Development to the Assembly on December 11.

    The budget size, which represents a 28.67 per cent increase over the state’s 2017 Budget of N812 billion, had a capital expenditure of N699 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N347billion.

  • Lawmakers hail planned 3,000MW power project for Lagos

    Lawmakers hail planned 3,000MW power project for Lagos

    Some lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday said that the N1.046 trillion Lagos State Budget proposal Government would facilitate growth and development.

    The lawmakers hailed the state Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for prioritising capital expenditure.

    According to them, since the 2017 budget performance was above 70 per cent, the 2018 budget will transform the state, especially through a planned power project.

    Ambode presented the 2018 budget proposal tagged: “Budget of Progress and Development” before the state House of Assembly on Monday.

    The budget size, which represented a 28.67 per cent increase over the 2017 budget of N812 billion, had a capital expenditure of N699 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N347 billion.

    The Acting Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr Tunde Braimoh said: “The budget is apt, ambitious, lofty and well-targeted at transforming the Lagos State economy and infrastructure.’’

    Read also: Ambode to present 2018 Budget on Monday

    Braimoh noted that the budget provided for a power project aimed at boosting economic activities of the state.

    According to him, epileptic power supply has caused severe damage to the nation’s economy, and if Lagos State Government can provide regular power supply, it will boost investments.

    “The problem of power supply has made our country to lose its industrial base. The budget will change the topography of Lagos,’’ he said.

    The lawmaker, however, said that there was the need to sustain the robust relationship between the legislative and  executive arms of the government for expedited implementation of the budget.

    On whether the budget will be passed before January, the spokesman said that it might not be possible as the Assembly would do proper scrutiny of the budget before its passage.

    Braimoh, however, said that the lawmakers would sacrifice their comfort to ensure quick passage of the budget without compromising standards.

    Also speaking, Mr Setonji David, the Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, said : “It is a great thing that the budget of Lagos State is over N1 trillion.

    “It means Lagos is moving and more infrastructure development on the way. The ratio of capital expenditure to recurrent expenditure is fantastic, and this means the governor is visionary.

    “It is quite impressive that the governor budgeted massively for the embedded power project to light up the state for industrialisation,” David said.

    Mr Olusegun Olulade, the Acting Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, said that the budget would galvanise result in accelerated development of the state.

    The Acting Chairman of the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (Local), Prince Adebisi Yusuf , who expressed satisfaction at the 2017 budget performance, said that the 2018 Budget would be better implemented.

    Ambode stated during the budget proposal that his administration would have direct intervention in the power value chain toward generating 3,000MW Embedded Power Programme-  a three-year plan to achieve regular  power supply for the state in 2018.

    “The challenge of inadequate power supply must be resolved for our economy to perform optimally, and we believe the provision of this essential utility can no longer be left in the hands of the Federal Government alone.

    “We must complement each other for the overall development of our nation,’’ the governor said.

    NAN

  • Obasa hails Army over indigenous language directive

    Obasa hails Army over indigenous language directive

    The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, has commended the Nigerian Army on its directive to its personnel to learn the country’s three major indigenous languages — Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.

    Obasa, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Mr Mufutau Egberongbe on Saturday, said the directive showed that the army was passionate about ensuring internal peace and unity in the country.

    “Our argument has often been that security officers should operate in areas where they understand the language, cultures and traditions of the people,” he said.

    The speaker said that was one of the reasons why the lawmakers had constantly advocated for state policing.

    “We also recently resolved to have Yoruba language taught in all schools in Lagos..

    “It is not a personal issue; there is the need to ensure that the language retains its importance in the country.

    “Across the world, people are proud of their languages. They even teach with it in schools and solve major societal issues with it.

    “We know English is our major language here, but we must keep indigenous ones from extinction.

    “With introduction of the three major languages in the military, we are sure of a positive result in the fight against terrorism and other issues threatening our peace as a nation,” Obasa said.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman, in a statement, had said that the army expected its personnel to learn the languages within the next one year.

    He said the directive was in line with a new language policy of the army.

    According to him, the policy will, among others, foster espirit-de-corps and better communication with the populace to enhance information gathering and civil-military relations.

    NAN

  • Ambode tasked on historical centres preservation

    Ambode tasked on historical centres preservation

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday called on Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, make effort to preserve the state’s historical centres and cultural heritage.

    This, according to the lawmakers, is necessary to promote tourism. The call followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade.

    Agunbiade’s motion centered on the need for the government to list all historical centres and monuments in the state, with a view to preserving them.

    Read Also: Assembly to continue agitation for special status for Lagos

    He particularly noted that Epetedo in Lagos Island, where the acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola, made his self-declaration as president should be given attention.

    Agunbiade divided the historical centres and monuments into three grades – A, B and C.

    According to him, Grade A would include all centres that the government would list and take over.

    Grade B, he said, is to include those centres for which the state government would compensate the family of the owners.

    He said that Grade C would be listed and marked without any compensation to the owners.

    Several lawmakers, who took turns to support the motion, listed centres such as first storey building in Nigeria located in Badagry, Carter
    Bridge and other similar sites as monuments to be preserved.

    The lawmakers said that such preservation had become important for future generations and for economic value.

    One of them, Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe Constituency I at the Assembly, said preservation of monuments is beneficial.

    “If such monuments are listed and preserved, it will enhance our value; it will enhance economic benefits,’’ Tobun said.

    The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Muyiwa Jimoh, added: “If we don’t know our history, we won’t know where we are coming from.

    “Herbert Macaulay’s statue fell down but people don’t think of re-erecting it.

    “If we don’t preserve our collective patrimony, it does not show we are humans,’’ Jimoh, representing Apapa Constituency II said.

    Also speaking, Mr Bisi Yusuff, representing Alimosho Constituency, reiterated the need to preserve the Epetedo centre.

    Yusuff, who noted that the state could not continue to abandon its important monuments, said that the late Abiola paid the supreme
    sacrifice to defend democracy.

    Meanwhile, the Assembly summoned the Managing Director of the Lagos State Building Investment Company (LBIC) Mrs. Folasade Folivi to
    appear before it on Thursday.

    The Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Urban and Physical Planning, Mr Setonji David, had accused the MD of disrespecting the committee.

    He spoke while presenting a report on a petition written by the residents of Ijaiye Low and Medium Housing Estate.

    The residents of the estate had petitioned the House over a plan by LBIC to demolish the illegal structures in the estate.

    Setonji said that the MD went ahead to demolish the structures, even when the committee had called for a stay of action on the demolition.

  • Lagos Assembly urges Ambode to clamp down on fake job advertisers

    Lagos Assembly urges Ambode to clamp down on fake job advertisers

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday urged Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to work with security agencies to check the spate of fake job advertisements in the state.

    The call followed a motion moved by Mr Abiodun Tobun (APC-Epe I) at the Assembly on the security challenges emanating from such fake adverts that were pasted on street walls in the state.

    Tobun prayed the House to call on Ambode to direct the Commissioner of Police, Department of State Security ( DSS ) and the State Neighborhood Safety Corps to curb the activities of scammers who defraud job seekers.

    “This motion is borne out of conviction. If you go around Lagos, you will be amazed seeing the number of adverts of jobs that are non-existent with a view to luring unsuspected youth into their dens,” he said.

    According to him, some victims are kidnapped, raped or even die in the process.

    “Ritual killers also use that as a strategy. It is time to track down this and ensure that it is nipped in the bud,“ Tobun, Acting Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure said.

    Contributing, the Acting Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Rotimi Olowo said: “When population is moving geometrically and job is growing arithmetically, there is going to be vacuum.

    “They come up with strategy to recruit and maim and kill. I am worried as a politician because 2019 is around the corner, people will believe the politicians are the ones who need human parts.’’

    Olowo said that the Lagos State Signage and Advertisements Agency ( LASAA ) must ensure scammers are detected.

    Also speaking, Mr Segun Olulade (APC-Epe II) called on the newly established Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps to do more in terms of intelligence gathering.

    “We have seen a lot of advertisements on walls in the streets claiming what they are not,’’ he said.

    Mr Yinka Ogundimu, on his part, said that emphasis should be laid on publicity and enlightenment.

    Ogundimu called for the sustenance of the state’s Employment Trust Fund, aimed at providing loans for small scale businesses.

    Mr Rasheed Makinde (APC-Ifako-Ijaiye II) in the House, who noted that he had once been a victim of such sharp practices, said that Lagos State was working assiduously to provide jobs.

    He urged the Federal Government to do the same to curb influx of unemployed youth into the state.

    In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa said: “it is not out of place to seek for jobs but the situation has turned upside down.

    “I strongly believe that the neighborhood safety corps is not doing enough in this aspect.’’

    Obasa called on the corps to verify claims on adverts placed on walls and liaise with the police in intelligence gathering to address the trend.

    NAN

  • Lagos Assembly passes College of Nursing Bill

    Lagos Assembly passes College of Nursing Bill

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed the Bill for A Law to Establish the Lagos State College of Nursing (Schools of Nursing, Midwifery And Public Health Nursing) and Other Connected Matters.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill had earlier scaled through the Third Reading before it was passed through a voice vote led by the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa.

    The Speaker of the House directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni, to forward a clean copy of the bill to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for assent.

    According to the bill, the college is to provide courses of instruction, training and other facilities in health related issues.

    “The college is expected to make these facilities available on proper terms to such persons as are eligible to benefit from them.

    The bill read in part: “the college shall provide courses of instruction on Nursing, midwifery and Public Health as the College may consider fit.

    “It shall conduct examination award degree programmes, National Diploma, Certificates and Higher National Diploma in Nursing, Midwifery and other related courses.

    “Persons who have pursued instructions of study approved by the college and have fulfilled the set conditions are entitled for such award.

    “It shall establish such departments, schools or other units of learning and research as may be required.’’

    It also provides that the college will have a Governing Council that will consist of the Chairman, the Director of Nursing and a representative from the Ministry of Health.

    Also on the council would be a representative of the Ministry of Education and a representative of the Governing Board of Lagos State University College of Medicine amongst others. (NAN)

  • 400 benefit from free medical programme

    400 benefit from free medical programme

    When Mr Olumide Hafeez came to the venue of the free medical programme organised by the lawmaker representing Alimosho State Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Bisi Yusuff, penultimate Tuesday, many people avoided him like a plague because he looked scary. He had large lumps of flesh that hung on both sides of his ears which rested on his two shoulders.

    The Free Health Mission was under the auspices of Prince of Hope Turns to Reality Foundation, an initiative of the lawmaker. He underwent surgical operation that first day he attended the programme from Badagry.

    However, penultimate Friday, after the free surgical operation and removal of the scary lumps, Olumide Hafeez became the cynosure of all eyes as everybody trooped around him and congratulated him on the success of the surgery and his new look.

    Hon. Yusuff said: “He was received with a thunderous ovation by the crowd and they followed him as if he was the president of Nigeria”.

    This was the story of Hafeez who came from Badagry for his huge Keloid to be operated upon. He said he has carried the Keloid for more than 12 years.

    Hafeez was just one out of the over 400 people who successfully underwent free surgical operations for various ailments and several other people across Alimosho and beyond who were treated of ailments ranging from hernia, lumpectomy, ganglion, keloid, appendicitis, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS and high blood pressure, among others.

    The five-day programme took place simultaneously in the five local council areas in Alimosho, but the surgical operations took place at the Ipaja mini-stadium with referrals from the other four centres for surgical operation.

    The programme, which is a yearly event, is used to commemorate the lawmaker’s birthday every September 26. Thirty surgeons including five from the United States of America were in attendance, apart from other supportive medical staff under the leadership of Dr. Oladokun Samson Alaba, a surgeon and Medical Director of Okiki Hospital in Alimosho area of Lagos.

    Some of those that went through surgical operations who spoke with our correspondent narrated their experiences.

    A beneficiary, Mr. Fidellis Ogochi said he was at the event to treat a head injury he had about eight years ago which was operated at the programme.

    He said it could not be treated before now due to lack of fund and the stress in the general hospital. He added that he heard about the programme over the radio.

    Another patient, Mr. Sunday Adekunle, who underwent surgical operation for hernia, thanked the lawmaker for the free health care programme.

    He revealed that he heard about the programme through a friend, and that he was unable to undergo the surgery in the hospital because he didn’t have the money to pay, even as he thanked God for the opportunity.

    Also, Mr. Okeaje Temitope, who underwent hernia operation, revealed that he had been suffering from the ailment since the past two years, stating that he was operated upon at the programme free.

    “I pray that the organiser of the programme lives long and God should reward him for the gesture.

    “I am from Aiyetoro in Ogun State. I urge Alimosho people to give Bisi Yusuff all he needs from them and during his campaign, we will stand by him. I heard about the event through a relation. I was given drugs and injections after the free surgery,” he said.

    Another beneficiary who identified herself as Adenike said her twins had abnormal features revealed that she could not afford the sum of N2 million which a hospital billed her in order to  operate on the children.

    Adenike further stated that her husband and members of his family abandoned her and the children because of their abnormality, adding that she begs in order to feed the children.

    She said she was invited to the programme by Hon. Yusuff, who had promised to help her operate the children free.

    Others such as Mr. Gbolahan Oyekan, whose son Lekan, had appendicitis, Nike Babalola, who required brain surgery and a host of others thanked Bisi Yusuff for the gesture.

    Speaking to reporters on the last day of the programme, Yusuff said the programme was successful.He said: “We thank God for everything. The people came, the turnout was massive and they can testify to what had happened. It was a huge success. It is a fact that we have health challenges in Nigeria let alone in Alimosho area.

    “What I witnessed here was that people came from Ekiti, Ibadan and other areas for the programme. They were living in agony before now.

    “I can say that our health care system at the national level should be overhauled. I thank God that Governor Ambode has introduced health insurance which I think should be accelerated because people are suffering.

    “We have left over of about 250 people that we could not attend to because today is the last day of the programme. Our target was 400 and we had exceeded that. The outreaches in other areas of the constituency have performed well also. We have made here our permanent operation centre and the outreaches refer people to this place.”

    The lawmaker expressed his happiness over the turnout at the programme, adding that not less than 70 people were operated upon every day during the five days the programme lasted.

     

  • Lawmaker points way forward for constituency

    The winner of the Eti-Osa 1 State Constituency bye-election for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Noheem Adams has stressed that development of his constituency is his paramount focus.

    He contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The lawmaker made the assertion during a stakeholders’ meeting with stakeholders in Eti-Osa. He urged all aggrieved individuals to bury their hatchet and team up with him to take the constituency to an enviable height.

    The team, led by the Ward E chairman of APC, Alhaji Adewunmi Tijani Fatai, visited stakeholders in Eti-Osa; the Baale of Alpha Beach Alhaji Shamsideen Atewolara Akinsanya, the Oshateru Olowa of Ajiranland Okun Alpha, Chief Muraino Gbadebo.

    Ward ‘A’ APC Chairman Alhaji Taofeek Adeola Majekodunmi, West Side Base in Ajah, Baale Ajah,Ilaje/Ajah Church, Baale Ajah Badore, Chief Muraino Jikoji in Ward ‘D’, Baale Sangotedo in Ward ‘B’ Chief Rafiu Lawal the Ajakaiye 1 of Sangotedo.

    Recall that the death of the member of the State Assembly representing Eti-Osa1 Hon. Kazeem Alimi on July 18 necessitated the bye-election.

    According to Noheem, former member of staff of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and a certified accountant, the deceased left behind a big shoe.

    “Through the help of the people and the Executive Governor of Lagos State Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, we shall enhance ecological protection to decisively tackle the ocean surge that is troubling us in Eti-Osa, the last rainfall wreaked havoc in Alpha Beach and beyond. We shall also embark on periodic clearing of drainage in our areas in order to ensure free flow of water, youths empowerment will not be ignored as we shall provide them with vocational trainings and assist them with tools to operate independently.

  • Yoruba language bill: Lagos schools risk fine, closure for non-compliance

    Yoruba language bill: Lagos schools risk fine, closure for non-compliance

    The Lagos State House of Assembly is proposing a fine of N500, 000 or closure of any school that flouts its proposed law on compulsory teaching and learning of Yoruba Language, when passed.

    “A Bill for a Law To Provide for the Preservation and Promotion of the Use of Yoruba Language and for Connected Purposes’’ before the House seeks to make Yoruba language a core subject in schools.

    Presenting a report on the bill on Thursday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Mr Lanre Ogunyemi, said that it would enhance the preservation of the language.

    According to him, the bill also recommends the translation of all the laws in the state into Yoruba language in order to get to its target.

    The Assembly had previously made moves to make teaching and learning of Yoruba Language compulsory in both public and private schools in the state.

    The House said that such step had become imperative to meet its target of preserving and promoting the indigenous language of the South West from going into extinction.

    The bill states further that all state- owned tertiary institutions should incorporate the use of Yoruba Language in the General Studies (GNS) curriculum.

    It reads in part: “The use of Yoruba Language shall be an acceptable means of communication between individuals, establishment, corporate entities and government in the state if so desired by the concerned.

    “Any school that fails to comply with the provisions of Section 2 of the law commits an offence and is liable on first violation to issuance of warning and on subsequent violation be closed down and also pay a fine of N500, 000.”

    Ogunyemi later told newsmen that the committee might amend a provision in the bill which recommended that it should take effect after two years of its passage.

    According to him, most of the lawmakers want the bill to become effective immediately after it is signed into law by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The lawmaker added that the Assembly was passionate about Yoruba Language which necessitated its adoption for parliamentary debate on Thursdays.

    “The National Policy on Education provides that the language of an environment should be spoken in schools, which is why Yoruba Language is being adopted for Lagos schools.

    “After the passage of the bill into law, it would become compelling for schools to speak Yoruba Language. We want to preserve the language for generations yet unborn,’’ he said.

    On compliance by private schools after passage, the lawmaker said that schools owners were part of the bill and that they were at meetings the committee held across the education districts in the state.

    He added that private schools owners would have no choice than to key into the project as they have been properly mobilised, adding that the state Ministry of Education would ensure compliance.

    On the translation of the laws into Yoruba Language, Ogunyemi said that this was to ensure that those that are literate in Yoruba language were carried along in the scheme of things in the state.

    The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, commended the committee, noting that the bill should take effect once signed into law by the state governor.

    The House accepted the report as its resolution as the bill awaits third reading.

    NAN