Tag: Mudashiru Obasa

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, has charged his colleaguet to be thorough and transparent as they embark on a review of the 2026 Appropriation Bill presented to the House by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu last Tuesday.

Obasa spoke during a three-day budget retreat of the Assembly, holding at the Park Inn by Radisson, Abeokuta, Ogun State, from November 26 to 28. 

The retreat, themed “Budget of Shared Prosperity: Enhancing Accountability and Transparency in Lagos State Budget Process”, was attended by all lawmakers, select legislative staff, and senior aides of the speaker.

Speaker Obasa said with the formal presentation of the ‘Budget of Shared Prosperity’ by Governor Sanwo-Olu, “It now behoves you, as representatives of the people, to do your job with clinical efficiency, empathy, diligence, self-awareness, transparency, and conviction. 

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“The governor has done everything to convince us that they have done a thorough job on the Budget, but it is left to the Assembly to decide how we will go about appropriating the state’s resources to align with the demands and aspirations of every Lagosian.”

Obasa further stated that he firmly believed that waste of scarce resources can be curbed if lawmakers perform their oversight functions effectively. 

“But when you pretend like you don’t see what you are supposed to see in the budget or you allow your palms to be greased, don’t forget, you are going back home; you are going back to that community that you didn’t defend or protect its interest when it was important to do so. And it is at home that your political fate will be decided. Let us do what is expected of us, and we will get it right,” he said.

The annual offsite budget retreat, which reflects Obasa’s insistence on a people-centric budget, aims to review and analyse, and ensure the timely passage of the state’s appropriation bill.

Among the resource persons at the retreat were Mr Olufemi Orojimi, the Director of Budget, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, who spoke on ‘Understanding the 2026 Appropriation Strategy: Insights from 2025 Budget Performance and Implementation Caps’; Dr Muda Yusuf, Founder/CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, who did justice to his papers on ‘An overview of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework’ and Improving legislative Oversight for Budget Implementation: The strategic role of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Yomi Olugbenro, West Africa Tax Leader at Deloitte, discussed ‘Navigating Nigeria’s New Tax Regime: Roles and Responsibilities of the Legislature.’ Other facilitators were Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Director/Clerk, Senate Public Accounts Committee; Olusegun Mojeed, the immediate past president/chairman, Board of Fellows, CIPM Nigeria; and Ifeanyi Peter, National Team Leader, Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement.

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has said Nigerians have witnessed inspiring transformation within two years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He said there was rejuvenation of the economy, renewal of the national spirit and reinvention of the Nigerian state.

Speaking yesterday at the 10th Constituency Stakeholders Engagement held at Agege Local Government Secretariat Hall, Obasa said this year’s theme, ‘Governance in Action: The Gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda’, was chosen to highlight the benefits of governance, particularly in alignment with the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Tinubu.

He said: “This unique programme, which is holding across the 40 constituencies in the state, gives us a viable opportunity to render an account of our stewardship as well as engage, interact and strengthen our mutual relationship and solidarity, and to collectively address pressing matters affecting the growth, progress and development of our great community.”

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He added: “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the administration has tackled the challenges of economic stagnation and instability. Strategic economic reforms, including a re-engineering of fiscal policies and revenue-generating mechanisms, have boosted investors’ confidence and diversified our economy. These reforms have led to an improved credit rating and have laid a strong foundation for economic prosperity and sustainable development.”

Recognising that robust infrastructure was the backbone of development, Obasa said the Tinubu administration had launched transformative projects nationwide, including new road networks, upgraded ports, and state-of-the-art public facilities, which, he noted, were not only enhancing the quality of life, but also reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a hub for commerce and innovation.

He said agriculture remained central to Nigeria’s quest for food security and self-sufficiency, adding: “The Renewed Hope Agenda has driven significant investments into mechanised farming and modern agricultural practices. Improved access to financing and expanded markets have empowered our farmers, increased production, and positioned Nigeria as a potential agricultural powerhouse.”

He highlighted the Tinubu administration’s investment in human capital, especially the students’ loan initiative under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a landmark policy that had brought renewed hope to youths.

“Campuses are now more peaceful, infrastructure is improving, and there’s a measure of stability in the academic environment across the federation. Education is once again becoming the tool for empowerment and national development,” he said.

Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has urged  local government chairmen and their deputies to prioritise the delivery of democracy dividends to the people.

Addressing a summit of local government chairmen, vice chairmen, council leaders and majority leaders, Obasa emphasised the importance of serving the people, noting that their mandate came from the electorate.

The summit of the chairmen of the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) was organised by the assembly yesterday at Lateef Jakande Auditorium, on the premises of the assembly.

 The Speaker said the assembly had made laws, including the laws that created Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Office of the Auditor General, and others.

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He said: “The house is ready to work with the local governments. We strongly believe we are one and that we are members of the same family, which is why we must work together. We are not going to witch-hunt any local government. We are here to encourage you. We are members of the same family and so we must be able to talk to one another.

“The most important things to us are the people because your mandate is from them. How do we serve them? We keep saying our votes are dwindling. Who are the closest to the people? It is the local governments.

“If our votes are dwindling, we should blame the local government chairmen. Don’t just say you will spend eight years and go just like that without achieving anything. It is when you serve the people that you will benefit. Don’t just go there and say you only want to make money. Make sure you provide what you promised the people so that life after office will be convenient for you.’’ 

The Chairman of Conference 57, Sesan Olowa, who is the chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, pledged that the council chairmen would work harmoniously with stakeholders and the councillors to entrench grassroots development.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has called on residents of the state to vote overwhelmingly for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday.

Obasa emphasised that the APC remains committed to grassroots development and has a proven track record of delivering for the people.

He noted that Lagos State continues to outperform other states in the country due to the consistent leadership of progressive-minded individuals who prioritize the welfare of citizens.

“The incoming chairmen and councillors will perform if given the mandate to serve. At the primaries, we voted for those we trust and believe in. We urge Lagos residents to support them. Our party knows how to make life better for the people, and we intend to do even more,” he said.

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Earlier, on Tuesday, during a strategic meeting held at the Assembly complex with APC candidates from the Lagos West Senatorial District, Obasa charged them to intensify their efforts through door-to-door campaigns and grassroots mobilization to ensure victory at the polls.

In a show of solidarity, the Speaker made a generous financial contribution to support the campaign activities of the candidates and reassured them of the assembly’s unwavering support before and after the elections.

Obasa urged them not to rely solely on the party’s popularity but to sustain aggressive outreach until the final day of campaigning.

“Engage every member of the community, regardless of ethnicity or religion,” he said.

•Hails President’s achievements

The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, yesterday marked 10 years in office.

 During a plenary, Obasa highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s loyalty to democratic ideals, noting that he remains the only major political figure who has never switched political camps since 1999.

He emphasised the need for a truly independent legislature, stating that the executive still wields significant influence over legislative affairs.

The Speaker added: “What differentiates military rule from democracy is the legislature. But in reality, the legislature is not yet fully independent. The executive still wields significant influence over legislative affairs. We must continue to strengthen our democratic institutions, especially now that  our democracy is still maturing.”

Also, the lawmakers commended Tinubu for playing a significant role in sustaining democratic governance.

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In his contribution, Bonu Solomon (Badagry 1) proposed the hosting of future Democracy Day in the Lagos Assembly to reflect the legislature’s role in upholding democratic values.

Also, Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti -Osa 2) lauded Tinubu’s developmental strides and supported the idea of hosting a similar event at the Lagos Assembly next year.

Saka Solaja (Ajeromi Ifelodun 1) praised Tinubu for recognising members of NADECO and other heroes of democracy.

Other lawmakers like Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho) stated that democracy offers the people freedom and a voice in governance.

The Assembly directed the Clerk of the House to send letters of commendation to Tinubu and other democracy heroes in recognition of their contributions to the democratic journey.

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, has appointed journalist and media strategist, Adeshina Oyetayo, as special adviser on Research, Media, and Documentation.

The appointment, effective March, brings on board a media expert with more than two decades of experience in journalism, media consultancy, and strategic communications.

Oyetayo, a former columnist with Punch, is expected to overhaul the communication strategy of the Speaker’s office, leveraging his understanding of the media landscape and legislative reporting.

Oyetayo served as chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of XS-Proficient Media Services, publishers of theassemblyng.com—a National Assembly-accredited news platform covering lawmakers.

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Oyetayo’s journalism career began at TELL magazine in 2002, after which he joined Punch in 2010 as an external columnist. He was managing editor of Lagos Indicator magazine in 2014 and an undercover investigative reporter for BBC Africa Eye.

He is the author of Behind the Streets, a book that explores identities behind the names of popular streets and neighbourhoods in Lagos.

A recipient of local and international journalism accolades, Oyetayo was a finalist in CNN/MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards in 2006, and winner of Young Journalist of the Year in 2005.

 He was named Journalist of the Year at The Future Awards Africa in 2007 and Best Music Writer at  MTV MAMA Awards in 2010.

Oyetayo has a diploma in Mass Communication from Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, and a degree in Philosophy from University of Lagos.

Stakeholders described the appointment as a strategic move likely to enhance the visibility and policy communication of the Speaker’s office.

With his wealth of experience, Oyetayo is expected to play a key role in shaping legislative narratives, enhancing documentation practices, and promoting transparency in the Lagos State Assembly.