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Tag: Lagos Assembly

  • Lagos assembly slashes pensions of Tinubu, Fashola, Ambode, other ex-govs by 50%, cancels provision of houses in Abuja, Lagos

    Lagos assembly slashes pensions of Tinubu, Fashola, Ambode, other ex-govs by 50%, cancels provision of houses in Abuja, Lagos

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has slashed pensions of former governors by 50%.

    The slash which was announced in a statement on Thursday, follows a report and consequently, a recommendation by the assembly’s Committee on Establishment.

    The committee also expunged the provision of houses in Abuja and Lagos for former governors as stipulated in an earlier law operated by the state.

    The report further showed a reduction in the number of vehicles to be made available to former governors and their deputies.

    Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, suggested that former governors should get two vehicles (a car and a van) instead of three as recommended by the committee.

    Obasa also suggested that the amended bill should provide that the cars be changed every four years instead of the three years recommended by the report.

    While some of the lawmakers, at plenary, had suggested an upward review of the pension for the affected public office holders by 75 per cent, others urged that the pension remain as stipulated in the old law.

    Obasa, however, argued that it should be left at 50 percent, especially as the report had recommended the removal of houses and reduced other benefits.

    Recalling the recent murder of the President of Haiti, Obasa said it was necessary to also secure the lives of the former officeholders.

    “By virtue of my office, I have seen former speakers who we just had to intervene in their lives because of the situations they found themselves outside office. We have also seen former governors in a very bad situation,” he said.

    The Speaker noted the argument of his colleagues that the projected downward review of the pension for the former governors and others could also be affected by inflation and other economic considerations, but reminded them that the House must meet the wishes of the people one of which is a cut in the cost of governance.

    “There is no argument, we must realise that this is democracy and it is all about the people. We are here because of the people. When we represent people, it is good for us to listen to them as well.

    “We must realise that we would always go back to the people for support. So when we hearken to their agitations and reduce what existed, it shows that we listen,” Obasa told his colleagues, adding that his suggestion for further reduction of the number of cars was because “as you age, your needs continue to decrease.”

    Earlier, some of the lawmakers had supported the report of the committee saying it would have a positive impact on the internally generated revenue of the state.

  • JUST IN: Lagos Assembly passes bill barring police from parading suspects

    JUST IN: Lagos Assembly passes bill barring police from parading suspects

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed an amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of the State barring the police from parading suspects before the media henceforth.

    The bill was passed at a sitting presided over by Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

    Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states: “As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”

    The bill also stipulates conditions under which a policeman can arrest without warrant, one of which is that a person must be reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or other such dangerous instruments.

    A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person in a criminal matter”.

    The bill adds a person who is arrested “shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defence or release.

    “A suspect should also be ‘accorded humane treatment, with the right to dignity of person; not subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; be brought before the court as prescribed by this law or any other written law; or be released conditionally or unconditionally.”

    After a voice vote, the Deputy Speaker directed the acting Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.

  • Lagos Assembly, Council Chairmen disagree over paucity of funds claims

    Lagos Assembly, Council Chairmen disagree over paucity of funds claims

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday disagreed with some local government chairmen over the latter’s claims of paucity of funds as a hindrance to the development of infrastructure in their Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    The Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr Olayiwola Olawale, made his feelings known in Ikorodu during an oversight tour of the LGA and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the zone.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the house committee were Mr Joseph Kehinde, Alimosho II, Mr Rasheed Makinde, Ifako Ijaiye II, Mr Nureni Akinsanya Mushin I and Mr Rauf Age-Sulaimon Amuwo Odofin II.

    Olawale disputed the claims of the council chairmen, arguing that there were enough funds flowing from the federal and state governments into local council coffers.

    The lawmaker, representing Mushin Constituency II, noted that the issue was the lack of creative ways of generating funds to help the councils to develop their infrastructure.

    Olawale said the Ikorodu council and the LCDAs were surrounded by commercial ventures even though they were agrarian communities, adding that there was need for them to be re-oriented and enlightened on how to generate funds.

    “I don’t know what they mean by paucity of funds. You and I know that there is enough funds coming from the federal, as well as the state, into the local government administrations.

    “What I discovered is that they are not putting genuine effort into the local administration of funds. They are not using their creative ways to generate funds.

    “Agreed, it is an agrarian area but still surrounded by many commercial ventures that they can tap on.

    “The leadership of the councils still needs to be re-orientated and enlightened on how to generate funds.” he said.

    Corroborating, a member of the committee, Mr Kehinde said the claims of paucity of funds was not tenable as the councils had not been able to measure up with the given allocation.

    Kehinde, representing Alimosho Constituency II, said he did not believe that Ikorodu Local Government Council did not have enough and questioned what they had been using their allocations for.

    The lawmaker said most of them have yet to make severance payments to political office holders, as directed.

    He said: “Before our visitation, I was one of those people that usually believed that Ikorodu did not have money.

    “If they are saying they don’t have enough funds, are they judiciously spending the money they have collected,’’ he asked.

    Earlier, some council chairmen had lamented the paucity of funds as the reason undermining infrastructural development in their areas.

    The Council Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Mrs Olajumoke Ademeyin-Jimbo, said efforts were being made to jerk up the revenue of the council in order to meet their infrastructural needs.

    Ademeyin-Jimbo said that the council needed money to rehabilitate the roads in its rural communities.

    The Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Mr Wasiu Ayodeji, also acknowledged the challenge posed by the paucity of funds.

    “The challenge is finance, especially with the splitting of Ikorodu Local Government into six.

    “However, we are appealing to the state government and the assembly to come to our aid in terms of the development of infrastructure in the council areas,” he said.

    Mr Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA, said that all the grey areas discovered by the house committee would be looked into, pointing out the councils would embark on more projects.

    The Chairman, Imota LCDA, Mr Wasiu Agoro, said that the council has improved on the provision of welfare for its staff and their internal revenue generation has also been enhanced.

    Also, Mr Adeola Banjo, the Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA commended the committee for giving it as pass mark after inspecting some of the projects it carried out.

    Banjo promised to continue to do his best, adding that the commendation has encouraged him to do more.

  • Lagos Assembly passes Lottery, Gaming Authority Bill

    Lagos Assembly passes Lottery, Gaming Authority Bill

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill for the establishment of Lagos State Lottery And Gaming Authority.

    The assembly passed the bill through a voice vote after its third reading.

    The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, explained that the passage of the bill had harmonised all other laws relating to gaming and lottery activities in the state.

    Obasa said that the bill would further regulate gaming and lottery activities in the state.

    The speaker also said an ad hoc committee had been constituted to organise a public hearing on land grabbing in the state.

    Obasa noted that the committee would report back to the House in three weeks time.

    He said that the House Majority Leader, Mr Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1), was the Chairman of the committee.

    “Other members of the committee are the Deputy Majority Leader, Noheem Adams (Eti-Osa 1), Mrs Mosunmola Sangodara (Surulere 2), and Mr Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1).

    “Others included Mr Rasheed Makinde (Ifako-Ijaye 1), Mr Nurudeen Akinsanya (Mushin 1), Mr Victor Akande (Ojo1) and Mr Adedamola Kasunmu (Ikeja 1).

  • #EndSARS: Lagos Assembly seeks proscription of FSARS

    #EndSARS: Lagos Assembly seeks proscription of FSARS

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Friday demanded proscription of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) over alleged high-handedness of the outfit.

    The assembly made the plea, following an emergency plenary called by the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, on the ongoing nationwide agitations for FSARS to be disbanded.

    The house also told the inspector-general of police to set up a new outfit in place of FSARS.

    It told the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, to provide protection for #EndSARS protesters as they express their grievances against FSARS.

    Recall that Obasa and some lawmakers today addressed protesters demanding an end to FSARS, who alleged that operatives of the outfit were killing innocent people nationwide.

    Addressing the assembly’s plenary, Obasa said that among the seven-point resolution passed after an extensive deliberation was that the Senate and House of Representatives should probe allegations against F-SARS.

    The speaker cited the allegations as incessant killing, maiming and dehumanizing of Nigerians.

    He said the assembly also urged the senate president and the speaker of the House of Representatives to institute public enquiries on the squad’s extra-judicial activities, including killings, maiming and dehumanizing of youths.

    “This investigation is to ensure that the victims are duly compensated while erring officers are sanctioned appropriately.

    “SARS should be proscribed and a new security outfit which will be more efficient with clearly spelt out code of conduct and rule of engagements be established, while sanction is imposed for misdemeanour.

    “Mr President should ensure that culpable officials of the F-SARS receive the punishment as prescribed by the National Assembly,” Obasa said.

    The house passed a resolution directing the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions to liaise with the commissioner of police and the attorney-general of the state.

    The house also urged Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to engage relevant institutions to protect lives and desist from scrutinizing phones, laptops and other gadgets belonging to youths.

  • Lagos assembly begins probe on auditor-general’s report on MDAs

    Lagos assembly begins probe on auditor-general’s report on MDAs

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday began probe on the 2019 Auditor-General’s Statutory Report on the accounts of the state’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    Chairman of the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee on State, Mr Nurudeen Saka-Solaja made this known while addressing newsmen before commencement of the exercise in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the public accounts committee is a statutory establishment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The committee is an important instrument of checks, probity and accountability by the legislature both at the federal and state levels.

    Saka-Solaja explained that the purpose of the probe was not to witch-hunt but to invite all heads of the indicted MDAs.

    He added that the exercise was to seek clarifications as regards the outstanding queries raised in the Auditor-General’s report to enhance better service delivery in the state.

    Saka-Solaja noted that Sections 125(2) and 129(1) (c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, empowered the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Assembly to ‘summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place’.

    “The committee is also empowered to direct the person to produce any document or other things in his possession or under his control and examine him as witness and require him to produce any document.

    “The committee can also direct him to produce other things in his possession or under his control, subject to all just exceptions’ during the deliberation and consideration exercise of the audited report of the accounts of MDAs submitted by the Auditor-General of the state.

    “Accordingly, in consonance with the need for effective and best practices in the pursuit of its statutory objectives, the public accounts committee (State) of the Lagos state house of assembly today commenced the deliberations and considerations of the audited report of the state auditor-general on the accounts of the state.

    “This is for the year ended, December 31, 2019,” he said.

    Saka-Solaja however assured Lagosians that all monies budgeted for the MDAs would be properly scrutinized to ensure it was judiciously spent as captured in the budget of the state.

  • Lagos Assembly queries Sanwo-Olu over whereabouts of three state helicopters

    Lagos Assembly queries Sanwo-Olu over whereabouts of three state helicopters

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to explain the whereabouts of three helicopters belonging to the state government.

    Mrs Mojisola Miranda, the House’s Chief Whip raised the matter during plenary on Monday sequel to the Matter of Urgent Public Importance.

    Thereafter, the House summoned some key government officials to explain the agreement between the state and Caverton Helicopters, the managers of the helicopters.

    Chief of Staff to the governor, Tayo Ayinde; Commissioners for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube; Special Duties, Seye Oladejo and management of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) were summoned.

    “Recall that in 2007, Lagos House of Assembly passed a bill for the establishment of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) for the state government to equip and strengthen the security agencies in the state.

    “Three helicopters were bought to strengthen security in the state. But, the helicopters are nowhere to be found now.

    “I will want us to look at it and get the concerned parties to tell the House the location of the three helicopters to see if they are just lying fallow.

    “If the state government has entered into an agreement with an entity on the equipment, let’s see to what extent the agreement has been working,” Miranda said.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa noted that the helicopters were meant for dual purposes – for security and for commercial purposes.

    Obasa emphasised that the House should know the amount that had accrued to the state from the helicopters so far.

    “What we have said so far has nothing to do with the image of the state or the assembly. What the Chief Whip has done is not too much. We need to know what has happened to the helicopters,” he said.

    In his contribution, Mr Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu I) said that the House had approved the purchase of two helicopters during the era of former Gov. Babatunde Fashola.

    Olowo said the House learnt that the state had an agreement with Caverton Nigeria Limited to partially commercialize operations of the helicopters on behalf of the state government.

    He added that it was important to know how the three helicopters had been managed so far.

    Also speaking, Mr Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju Lekki I) said the assets were purchased for security purposes and to generate money for the state government.

    Mojeed said the House needed to know what had happened to the helicopters and urged that a committee should be set up to look into the matter.

    Corroborating, Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1) said the helicopters should be at the reach of the state for security, probity and accountability.

    However, Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu II) cautioned that the assembly ought to have approached the office of the Chief of Staff over the helicopters before bringing it to plenary.

    Another lawmaker, Olawale Olayiwola (Mushin II) noted that it was important to call the attention of the state government to the matter.

    Olawale said the House needed to know the whereabouts of the helicopters, adding that many vehicles that were donated for security purposes in the state were also not functioning well.

  • Lagos Assembly suspends activities by a week after Covid-19 kills member

    Lagos Assembly suspends activities by a week after Covid-19 kills member

    Lagos House of Assembly has suspended all committee meetings, assignments, and visit to the complex.

    This was contained in a statement from the Assembly signed by the Clerk, Azeez Sani on Friday evening.

    The suspension, which takes effect from Monday, July 13 will last till Sunday, July 19.

    This is coming after Tunde Braimoh, lawmaker representing Kosofe constituency II at the Lagos state house of assembly, was reportedly killed by Covid-19.

    The deceased, until his death, was the chairman, house committee on information, security and strategy.

    Meanwhile, the Assembly is expected to resume on Monday, July 20

    No reason was given for the suspension of activities by the Assembly.

  • BREAKING: Lagos Assembly spokesman, Tunde Buraimoh is dead

    BREAKING: Lagos Assembly spokesman, Tunde Buraimoh is dead

    The Lawmaker representing Kosofe constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Braimoh is dead.

    Until his death, he was the chairman house committee on information, security and strategy in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    Tunde Braimoh had also served in the Parliament as the chairman house committee on Judiciary, petitions and LASIEC, he was also a one time chairman of Kosofe local government area, now ikosi isheri local council.

    He is survived by his wife and children.

    Confirming his death, Hon. Sanni Ganeey Okanlawon from Kosofe Constituency 1, wrote on Facebook “ONE DEATH TOO MANY, TUNDE BURAIMOH, Sun re o”.

    More details later…
  • Lagos Assembly lifts suspension of 4 lawmakers

    Lagos Assembly lifts suspension of 4 lawmakers

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday reinstated four of its members earlier suspended indefinitely over alleged misconduct and insubordination.

    The Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, made the announcement during the plenary in Lagos.

    The House, had on March 9, passed a resolution sacking two of its principal officers and suspending two members indefinitely for alleged misconduct, insubordination and action that could destabilise the House.

    The speaker announced the punitive measures following the voice votes by members present during the plenary.

    He said the principal officers that were removed included the Chief Whip, Mr Rotimi Abiru and Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Olumuyiwa Jimoh.

    The speaker also announced the suspension of Mr Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland Constituency II) and Mr Kazeem Raheem Adewale (Ibeji Lekki Constituency II).

    The offices of the four lawmakers in the House were subsequently locked by the Speaker on March 10.

    Obasa said on Thursday during plenary, that the House decided to lift their suspension following the intervention by the Governor’s Advisory Council and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The Governor’s Advisory Council and the National leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have intervened in the crisis and directed that the House should reinstate the suspended lawmakers.

    “The affected lawmakers are Mr Olumuyiwa Jimoh, who was the former Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Rotimi Abiru, the Chief Whip, Mr Moshood Oshun and Mr Raheem Adewale,” he said.

    The speaker said that the House still remained one big family as it had resolved the crisis between him and the aggrieved lawmakers through the party mechanism.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that their previous positions were not reinstated as the affected lawmakers had been assigned to another standing committee.