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Tag: Gbajabiamila

  • Why we must build a resilient education system – Gbajabiamila

    Why we must build a resilient education system – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila, says there is a need for Nigeria to build a resilent education system to guarantee uninterupted learning, even in difficult times.

    Gbajabiamila made the statement at the launch of “Back to School Jump Start Project” on Friday in Lagos.

    The project was a collaboration between the Office of the Speaker and the National Lottery Trust Fund to digitise teaching and learning in schools.

    The Speaker, represented by Rep. Ademorin Kuye (APC-Shomolu) , said the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant lockdown in 2020 impacted education negatively.

    He said many students were shut out of school during the COVID-19 lockdown as they could not access learning owing to poor digital infrastructure in schools.

    Gbajabiamila said the Jump-Start Project, therefore, aims at digitising the teaching and learning process and inculcating a culture of basic hygiene in schools across the nation.

    “The reason for tagging the first leg of the Jump-Start project as “No School Left Behind in Surulere” is to address the widening of the educational disadvantage heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “While the health implications of the pandemic are all too obvious ,its consequences for education are subtle, but nonetheless, devastating.

    “For students in Nigerian public schools, the lockdown in 2020 was a huge setback.

    “Thus, the Jump Start Project is designed to mitigate the disadvantages caused by the lack of digital infrastructure in public schools, as well as ensure that there are no breaks in teaching and learning in the event of future pandemics”, he said.

    The Speaker desscribed education as the best possible investment in people, saying “It is the silver bullet that lifts people out of poverty, encourages a broader perspective that expands their worldview”.

    He said the National Assembly was committed to building back a better and stronger education system, resistant to the eventualities of the “new normal”.

    Gbajabiamila also said he was personally committed to improving the lives and livelihoods of his constituents through education.

    The Speaker commended the National Lottery Trust Fund and the Social Impact Healthcare and Education Foundation (SHE) for partnering his office on the project .

    He said the first phase of the project would see 46 junior and senior schools in Surulere 1 Federal Constituency recieving E-learning equipment such as laptops, android tablets, phones, stationery and sanitation materials.

    “As you are aware, the project should span the six geo-political zones, and it is our fervent wish that the National Lottery Trust Fund will support the project to achieve this objective and achieve our goals”, he added.

    He thanked the people of Surulere for their consistent support, promising that he would continue to redeem his electoral promise to deliver democratic dividends in the area.

    In his speech, Dr George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, thanked the National Lottery Trust Fund and Gbajabiamila for coming up with the project.

    Akume, represented by Dr Bello Maigari, Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund, said the project was in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to boost the learning capacity of students through the use of technology.

    “Today’s event underscores the commitment and determination and promise of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to improve the capacity of students to learn and excel in their studies”, he said.

    Akume said the government would continue everything necessary to improve the standard of education in the country.

    He warned all lottery licencees to settle their liabilities with the fund or risk the revocation of their licences.

    In his remarks, Maigari commended Gbajabiamila for partnering with the fund on the project.

    Maigari, whose speech was read by Mr Sule Tegina, said the project would boost the capacity of schools in the area of digital teaching, learning and sanitation.

    “The programme, which seeks to help improve the current capacity of schools in the area of good hygiene practice through the provision of basic sanitary and standard modern teaching and modern learning aids for promoting standard, is in tandem with global practice”, he said.

    He said the mandate of the fund was to take custody of 20 per cent of national lottery and gaming operations to execute development projects.

    Benefitting schools were presented with e-learning devices, sanitation materials as well as a cheque of N100,000 each at the programme.

    Officials of the National Lottery Trust Fund later proceeded to Gbaja Maternal and Child Care Centre in Surulere, where they presented some medical equipment to the facility in conjunction with the Office of the Speaker.

  • NASS will soon start another round of constitutional amendments – Gbajabiamila

    NASS will soon start another round of constitutional amendments – Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the National Assembly will soon start another round of amendments to the 1999 Constitution.

    The speaker disclosed this to reporters in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.

    Gbajabiamila explained that the lawmakers would also devolve more powers from the exclusive to the concurrent list in the new amendment.

    He said that both Chambers of the National Assembly would harmonise the amendments and send same to State Houses of Assembly.

    Kwara Governor AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq reiterated the need to have more women in government especially thirty five percent affirmative.

  • Lawan, Gbajabiamila, governors, others congratulate President Buhari at 79

    Lawan, Gbajabiamila, governors, others congratulate President Buhari at 79

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila on Thursday felicitated President Muhammadu Buhari on today’s celebration of his 79th birthday.

    Also, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun) as well as Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige saluted the President on the celebration.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, the Senate President said: “I join the multitude of fellow Nigerians and your other well-wishers across the globe in thanking Allah for His great gifts of good health and long life to you…

    “You are a leader who has matched vision with courage and who is steadfast in his pursuit of the right cause and common good…

    “The National Assembly will continue to work with you in line with our shared vision and in the best interest of our dear nation.”

    Gbajabiamila, who congratulated President Buhari through a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said: “Mr. President, Nigeria and Nigerians are proud of you. The way you have been steering the ship of the Nigerian state has been commendable.

    “I, therefore, join millions of our compatriots to wish you a happy birthday and more years in good health.”

    In a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “You have contributed immensely to the unity, growth and development of Nigeria right from your youthful days till date, having served in different capacities as Minister of Petroleum Resources, Head of State and currently President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”

    Oyetola, who congratulated President Buhari through a statement in Osogbo, the state capital, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, said: “It is noteworthy to mention that, despite the challenges confronting us as a country, you have made remarkable and impactful contributions to the growth and development of the country. You have remained an incorruptible and honest leader.”

    Ngige, in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, described the President as a colossus who, upon crossing the Rubicon in 2015, retrieved Nigeria from a threatening morass, and set her on a fruitful march of socio-economic and political recovery.

    He added: “…The expansion of roads and railway infrastructure, illustrating the unambiguous commitment to national infrastructural rebirth, and summarised by the administration’s five legacy projects, viz: the Second Niger Bridge, now 80 per cent completed; the Lagos-Ibadan-Ilorin-Kaduna road; the East-West road; Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road and the Mambilla Project and more!”

  • Party politics: Why I pushed for direct primaries – Gbajabiamila

    Party politics: Why I pushed for direct primaries – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has explained why he pushed for direct primaries as the only method through which political parties should elect candidates to stand for elections.

    In a statement, his special media aide, Lanre Lasisi, quoted the Speaker as saying that direct primaries would bring more accountability and adequate representation.

    According to him, with direct primaries, political office holders would not be restricted to pleasing a group of people selected as delegates.

    He further noted that through direct primaries, political officers would work for the generality of their party members, and by extension the electorate.

    Besides, Gbajabiamila said he observed that many Nigerians, especially the youths, want to participate fully in electing their representatives right from the grassroots level, hence his resolve to champion direct primaries.

    The Speaker, while hosting a delegation of the Nigerian youths – led by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare – on a ‘Thank You’ visit for his role on direct primaries, said he preferred a political space open for all, including the youths, to participate fully.

    Gbajabiamila said some members of the political class may not be comfortable with the arrangement, but that the majority of the masses are in support of direct primaries which he said would give them the opportunity of deciding who would represent them.

    Advancing some of the reasons, Gbajabiamila said: “If I know that my return will depend on some few men, I may care about you. But if I know that my return will depend on my accountability and representation to the people, I will do the right thing.

    “It is important for this generation to open the door of leadership to the next generation. We must allow every Nigerian to participate fully in the process of leadership. I, therefore, stand with Direct Primary.”

    “That’s why I said at different fora that I’m for direct primaries. We have to do this for the sake of the institution.

    “When you gather yourselves (as youths), chances are that you’ll win. Democracy is a government of the people. Democracy is not just a general election. It starts from the primaries.”

    The Speaker, therefore, challenged the Nigerian youths to “take advantage of the new amendment,” saying “power is not served a la carte.

    “I’ll ask that you carry that advocacy out there because it’s for you.”

    He noted that the youths are part of the reasons the lawmakers exist, saying: “The youths are the greatest asset of any nation, not just in Nigeria.”

    He said Nigerian youths are thriving in different spheres of life, but decried their non-interest in politics.

    “Since the Not Too Young to Run became law, you’ve not taken advantage of that. The Act appears to be a paper tiger. The enabling environment to work for that Act isn’t capitalized on.”

    The Speaker also said the fact that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government provides adequate funding for the youths showed that it recognized that they are the future of the country.

    He thanked the minister for leading the youths’ delegation to thank him for the role he played in ensuring the inclusion of direct primaries as the only method of electing political parties’ candidates for elections.

  • You’re slacking in your job, Gbajabiamila blasts Rules & Business Committee

    You’re slacking in your job, Gbajabiamila blasts Rules & Business Committee

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The House of Representatives’ Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday lambasted the Rules and Business Committee of the House for not doing its job properly leading to confusion in the House during plenaries.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the Speaker apparently peeved with the committee regretted the incidence of repetition of matters listed on the order papers, even though they had been taken at previous sittings also called for a change of personnel handling the listing if necessary.

    Drama started on the floor of the House when Hon. Kolade Victor Akinjo (PDP, Ondo), moved a motion on notice on the ‘Need to Investigate the Concession of Some Airports in Nigeria, praying the House to critically look into the terms and conditions of the concession agreements.

    However, upon moving his motion and the secondment for debate, the deputy chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Ademora Adekuye, Shomolu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, informed the House that the matter had earlier been treated and referred by the House to the Committee on Aviation.

    “This motion has earlier been brought and the matter referred to committee on Aviation. The chairman committee on Aviation set up a sub-committee headed by Hon. Linda Ikpeazu who has invited all the parties concerned in this matter.

    The report of that committee has been submitted to the committee on Aviation and I am sure this matter is already been dealt with. I want to pray that this matter be stepped down because it is already been looked at”, Hon. Kuye told the House.

    The presiding Speaker, who queried the rationale for listing a matter that the committee knew had been dealt with, saying that it suggests a fundamental problem.

    “There is a problem. The Business and Rules is saddled with the responsibility of listing matters on the order paper and the same Business and Rules not once, not twice, would always say that matter is already taken, so why did you list it? Why was it listed? That means the Business and Rules is not doing its job. Whoever is supposed to be doing his job, whoever is supposed to be doing it.

    “Hon Kuye is there a problem with how Business and Rules work? They would put something on the order paper and come out and say the matter has already been considered. So we can know how to address the process in Business and Rules,” Gbajabiamila said.

    The deputy chairman, Hon Kuye again responded, saying: “We cannot deny the fact that we have little issues here and there in the committee but we are looking at it to make sure that this kind of thing is dealt with.”

    “Do you have a computerized system”?
    Gbajabiamila asked, with Hon. Kuye responding in the affirmative. “We do.”

    Gbajabiamila, again asked as to “why is it difficult to just do a search by punching in a number and it would bring you all the issues? If you put in airport motions, you should be able to see every motion that has come up.”

    Responding Kuye said: “Mr Chairman of the committee is doing his best. In fact just recently we had a training for the officers and the Secretariat and we will continue to do that until it becomes what we want them to be.”

    “At what point does it get to you? Gbajabiamila asked, saying: Who are the people listing these matters? Is it your staff, because if you want us to change the staff around we will, since they are making your job difficult.”

    Kuye again, defended: “No sir. We would look at it. We would address it.”

    “So you are saying for a fact that this matter is being investigated and a report is already with the committee,”
    Gbajabiamila queried further.

    The visibly troubled Kuye responded saying that “the report is already there Sir. The chairman of the committee was Hon Linda Ikepazu. I was a member of the committee. The minister for Aviation was invited. The Labour Union of the Aviation sector, FAAN, all of them. They made presentations.”

    Asked to make further inputs, the mover of the troublesome motion, Hon Akinjo, noted that “Without prejudice to the assertion of my dear colleagues. At the level of the committee on Privatization and Commercialization (which he chairs), we got torrents of petition as it concerns the concession of the national assets. In view of the fact that those important institutions saddled with the law to handle commercialization and concession particularly BPE and ICRC that they are not informed.”

    At this point, the Speaker told the committee deputy chairman that: “These are problems you cause in Business and Rules,” just as he tried to douse the tension by guiding the mover of the motion on the specifics of his subject matter.

    “Your motion Hon Victor is very specific on airports. It was not on national assets. It was on airports. So this is a case of overlapping mandate, is what you are trying to say. We cannot say that the committee on Aviation does not have jurisdiction, neither can we say your committee does not have jurisdiction. It might even be the one with primary jurisdiction being the committee on Privatization and Commercialization,” the Speaker noted.

  • SERAP asks Lawan, Gbajabiamila to reject Buhari’s fresh request to borrow $4bn, €710m

    SERAP asks Lawan, Gbajabiamila to reject Buhari’s fresh request to borrow $4bn, €710m

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of House of Representatives Mr Femi Gbajabiamila to reject the fresh request by President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow $4 billion and €710 million until the publication of details of spending of all loans obtained since May 29, 2015 by the government.”

    President Buhari recently sought the approval of the National Assembly to borrow $4,054,476,863 billion and €710 million, on the grounds of “emerging needs.” The request was contained in a letter dated 24 August, 2021.

    In an open letter dated 18 September 2021, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization expressed “concerns about the growing debt crisis, the lack of transparency and accountability in the spending of loans that have been obtained, and the perceived unwillingness or inability of the National Assembly to vigorously exercise its constitutional duties to check the apparently indiscriminate borrowing by the government.”

    SERAP said: “The National Assembly should not allow the government to accumulate unsustainable levels of debt, and use the country’s scarce resources for staggering and crippling debt service payments rather than for improved access of poor and vulnerable Nigerians to basic public services and human rights.”

    According to SERAP, “Accumulation of excessive debts and unsustainable debt-servicing are inconsistent with the government’s international obligations to use the country’s maximum available resources to achieve progressively the realisation of economic and social rights, and access of Nigerians to basic public services.”

    The letter, read in part: “The country’s public debt has mushroomed with no end in sight. The growing national debt is clearly not sustainable. There has been no serious attempt by the government to cut the cost of governance. The leadership of the National Assembly ought to stand up for Nigerians by asserting the body’s constitutional powers to ensure limits on national debt and deficits.”

    “SERAP urges you to urgently propose a resolution and push for constitutional amendment on debt limit, with the intent of reducing national debt and deficits. This recommendation is entirely consistent with the constitutional oversight functions and spending powers of the National Assembly, and the country’s international anti-corruption and human rights obligations.”

    “Indiscriminate borrowing has an effect on the full enjoyment of Nigerians’ economic and social rights. Spending large portion of the country’s yearly budget to service debts has limited the ability of the government to ensure access of poor and vulnerable Nigerians to minimal health care, education, clean water, and other human needs.”

    “Should the National Assembly and its leadership fail to rein in government borrowing, and to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of public loans, SERAP would consider appropriate legal action to compel the National Assembly to discharge its constitutional duties.”

    “The National Assembly under your leadership has a constitutional responsibility to urgently address the country’s debt crisis, which is exacerbated by overspending on lavish allowances for high-ranking public officials, lack of transparency and accountability, as well as the absence of political will to recover trillions of naira reported to be missing or mismanaged by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

    “The National Assembly should stop the government from borrowing behind the people’s backs. Lack of information about details of specific projects on which loans are spent, and on loan conditions creates incentives for corruption, and limits citizens’ ability to scrutinise the legality and consistency of loans with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), as well as to hold authorities to account.”

    “SERAP notes that if approved, the country’s debts will exceed N35 trillion. The government is also reportedly pushing the maturity of currently-secured loans to between 10 and 30 years. N11.679 trillion is reportedly committed into debt servicing, while only N8.31 trillion was expended on capital/development expenditure between 2015 and 2020.”

    “Ensuring transparency and accountability in the spending of loans by the government and cutting the cost of governance would address the onerous debt servicing, and improve the ability of the government to meet the country’s international obligations to use maximum available resources to ensure the enjoyment of basic economic and social rights, such as quality healthcare and education.”

    The letter was copied to chairmen of the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly.

  • We’ll ensure constitution amendment provides for inclusiveness, unity – Gbajabiamila

    We’ll ensure constitution amendment provides for inclusiveness, unity – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the House would ensure that the ongoing constitution amendment produces a document that would entrench inclusiveness and unity among Nigerians.

    Gbajabiamila said the efforts of the House would also put in place mechanisms for holding the institutions of state accountable and “put an end to the debilitating conflicts that continue to tear our nation apart.”

    Delivering the keynote address at the 112th Founder’s Lecture of the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) on Saturday in Lagos, with the theme ‘Unity in Diversity, Stronger Together,’ Gbajabiamila said Nigeria stands to achieve a lot when the citizens are united.

    Gbajabiamila, who went down memory lane, said having inherited the union called Nigeria, “we have built it up and held it together. We accomplished this through joint effort over many years.

    “We did it through citizens moving from one end of the country to another, acquiring education, building businesses, making friends, falling in love, and marrying. We did it through the joy of shared victories and the mourning of communal loss.

    “We took ownership of our country by sacrificing blood, sweat and tears to secure democratic governance and make Nigeria into a place where grand visions can be made real by determined effort and where hope can thrive. As in the words of our old national anthem, we have made of this nation where ‘though tribes and tongue may differ in brotherhood we stand’.”

    Gbajabiamila, who said “Nigeria belongs to all of us in equal measure,” noted that “the creation of this union was divinely ordained. Therefore, it is our sacred duty as citizens of this great country to identify the purpose of this divine creation and give ourselves to those activities that will make real the divine purpose of our national union.”

    “In the House of Representatives, we are currently in the process of a substantive review of our nation’s constitution. Our objective is to deliver a constitution that more effectively organises our politics to make it more inclusive, enshrine efficient mechanisms for holding the institutions of state to account and put an end to the debilitating conflicts that continue to tear our nation apart.

    “We will not produce a perfect constitution; no such thing has ever existed in the world. However, together we can, by the choices we make and our actions, use our constitution as the foundational document of our nationhood to give life to the best promise of Nigeria.”

    He called for the buy-in and support of Nigerians, especially “credible voices from outside of government,” for the House to succeed in achieving its objectives.

    The Speaker said Nigeria’s “unity is incumbent on our ability to do three things and do them well. The first is to ensure that the government respects, protects and guarantees the fundamental rights of all citizens, without exception.

    “The second is to provide a society where our people are free from want and have the resources to pursue their dreams and achieve their best aspirations. The third is by freeing our people from the abject terror and accompanying limitations of wanton insecurity in all its forms.

    “This is the pathway to a truly united Nigeria. A nation where our diversity is a source of strength, and we are not defined by the differences of tribe, tongue, religion and history. All of the above depends a lot on the quality of political leadership at all levels of government. It also depends on whether we are ready to have the difficult conversations about the realities of our country without recourse to easy tropes and comforting shibboleths.”

    He urged that” In our public and private lives, we must also make a conscious effort to reject the formulation of thought and actions that elevate every point of difference and disagreement into a seismic breaking of alliances.

    “We cannot continue to assume and act in the assumption that every criticism, political action and governing decision, for good or bad, is the product of ethnic, religious or other such considerations. We need to begin once more to extend to ourselves the benefit of kindness and the assumption of good intentions. We are capable of this.”

  • IPOB, Yoruba nation agitators not different from terrorists – Gbajabiamila

    IPOB, Yoruba nation agitators not different from terrorists – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the refusal of the separatist movements in the southern part of the country to accommodate dissenting opinions makes them the same as the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.

    He stated this on Wednesday in his address to welcome members of the House back from their nine weeks recess.

    The lawmakers had proceeded on recess on July 15 after considering some major bills including the Electoral Amendment Bill and Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    President Muhammadu Buhari has since signed the PIB into law.

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) advocates the secession of the Igbo-populated South-east zone while in the South-west zone, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, is leading agitation for a Yoruba nation.

    IPOB recently gave a sit-at-home order every Monday in the South-east. The order has been enforced partly through violence, forcing the people of the region to comply.

    On Tuesday, the group also gave a sit-at-home order in honour of its members killed on September 14, 2017, when men of the Nigerian Army invaded the home of Nnamdi Kanu, its leader.

    The order has been condemned by several people, including the state governors from the region.

    Mr Gbajabiamila said given “time and space,” the separatist movements in the south will drag Nigeria towards the path of destruction.

    According to him, the groups are posing new threats to the national security of Nigeria.

    “Thus far, we have rightly focused our national security concerns on the machinations of extremist insurgents who seek to remake our world in the image of their discredited theocracy and bandits who maraud and terrorise whole regions for profit,” the speaker said.

    “We must now add to these concerns an emerging threat that presents the same clear and present danger. In the South of Nigeria, East and West, miscreants and criminals masquerading as separationist activists have emerged to wreak havoc, take lives and commit economic sabotage against fellow Nigerians and against the state.

    “These people, in their inclination for devastating violence against fellow citizens, their appetite for the destruction of private property, their disruption of academic activities, commerce, and industry, their propensity for defiling institutions of the state, society and community, their refusal to engage in debate, or to consider the possibility of dissenting opinions and alternative viewpoints, are no different from Boko Haram and ISWAP. Given space and time, they will take our nation down the same path of destruction.”

    Mr Gbajabiamila also asked the media to desist from using the number of bills sponsored as metrics for measuring the performance of a lawmaker.

    He described the practice as “uninspired journalism,” noting that there are other mandates for lawmakers aside from bills and motions.

    Mr Gbajabiamila urged his colleagues to brace themselves for more work as the House is due to commence the implementation of the recommendations of the security summit.

    The lawmakers held a security summit in May and the report of the special committee was subsequently adopted before the House embarked on holiday in July.

  • 2023: Gbajabiamila speaks on plans to govern Lagos, rates Sanwo-Olu’s performance

    2023: Gbajabiamila speaks on plans to govern Lagos, rates Sanwo-Olu’s performance

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has reacted to widespread information that he might want to take a shot at the governorship seat of Lagos come 2023.

    But the Speaker who featured on Tuesday on a monitored Channels Television he has no ‘immediate plan’ to become the number citizen of Lagos State.

    “No, I don’t have any such plan; I have no immediate plan.”

    “I have a job that I am doing now, a very tough job; sometimes the most difficult job but people don’t understand.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the lawmaker has been representing Surulere I Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives since 1999, and emerged as the Speaker in 2019.

    According to him, the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is doing quite well despite the challenges he faces.

    Gbajabiamila said since the governor was elected into office, he has proven himself as a diligent public office holder.

    “I don’t want distractions. I am working as the Speaker of the House of Representatives with a lot of responsibilities on my shoulders right now; any other thing will be a distraction.

    “As for the Lagos State governorship (election), I have not even thought about it and why? (because) the present governor of Lagos State is doing a good job,” he stated.

    “The fact that we had a one-term governor at one time does not mean it is going to be the same. The governor is doing a good job under the circumstances – these are difficult times in the last two years and he’s come out well.”

    The Speaker also reacted to rumours that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, plans to join the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

    Although he did not specifically state whether Tinubu has revealed his intention to run or not, Gbajabiamila believes the APC National Leader is more than qualified to contest the election.

    When asked to evaluate the performance of his party in terms of tackling insecurity, the lawmaker replied in the affirmative.

    He explained that since APC took over Nigeria’s leadership in 2015, the present administration has done well in dealing with the nation’s security challenges.

  • Lagos LG poll: Gbajabiamila decries poor voter turn out

    Lagos LG poll: Gbajabiamila decries poor voter turn out

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, has decried the low turn out of voters during Saturday’s local government election in Lagos State.

    Gbajabiamila made the observation after casting his vote at his polling unit located at Elizabeth Fowler Primary School, Ward 014 on Mercy Eneli street, Surulere.

    “I am not going to say I am impressed but the turn out is low; but what is more important is the peaceful nature of the election.

    “From what I have seen so far, there is no violence and people are conducting themselves orderly but would have wanted a larger turn out.

    “I am very disappointed to hear that the card reader has technical issues which is like we are not there yet, but almost there.

    “INEC is charged with the responsibility of electoral features, while NCC is charged with the responsibility of making sure our technological is improved with proper infrastructure,” Gbajabiamila said.