TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lagos Assembly

  • Lagos Assembly names replacements for sacked principal officers

    Lagos Assembly names replacements for sacked principal officers

    The Lagos State House of Assembly late Monday named two lawmakers as replacement for the principal officers sacked on Monday during plenary.

    The members, after plenary unanimously elected Hon. Noheem Adams from Eti-Osa constituency 1 as the Deputy Majority Leader while Mojisola Miranda representing Apapa constituency 1 was elected as the new Chief Whip.

    Before their election, Noheem was the chairman of the committee on Public Private Partnerships while Miranda was in charge of the committee on Job Creation.

    Their election comes hours after the impeachment of Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh as the Deputy Majority Leader and Rotimi Abiru, who was the Deputy Chief Whip.

    The two officers were removed by their colleagues after a voice vote.

    The House had also suspended two other lawmakers, Hon. Moshood Oshun from Mainland Constituency 2, and his colleague, Kazeem Raheem Adewale from Ibeju Lekki Constituency 2.

    They were suspended indefinitely for alleged gross misconduct and other infractions said to be against the rules guiding the House and its operations.

    Reading our the suspension, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, relied on the provisions of the House’ Rules and Standing Order.

    He had noted that the Legislature is the hope of the people of the state but because of the conducts of the affected lawmakers, the hope seemed to be missing.

    “It is of this notes that I invoke Orders 68, 71, (4)(a)(b)(11) and (111) of the Rules and Standing Order of the House in respect of gross misconduct and insubordination, actions that can destabilise the House,” he said.

  • Lagos Assembly suspends two lawmakers

    Lagos Assembly suspends two lawmakers

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday suspended two of its members for gross misconduct and activities that undermines the sanctity of the house.

    The officers suspended are Hon. Moshood Oshun representing Lagos Mainland 2 and Hon. Adewale Raheem representing Ibeju Lekki 2

    The Speaker, Rt.Hon.Mudashiru Obasa while announcing the suspension noted that discipline is key for the protection of the sanctity of the house against insubordination.

    Obasa invoked house rules 68,74,4a,b,2 and 3 to enforce the suspension.

  • Lagos Assembly to amend neighbourhood corps law for Amotekun

    Lagos Assembly to amend neighbourhood corps law for Amotekun

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday commenced the process of amending the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Law 2019 to accommodate a section for Amotekun Corps.

    The House took the first and second reading of the bill at plenary on Thursday and committed the bill to the Committee on Information, Publicity, Security and Strategy to report back to the House sine die, the House is to hold public hearing on the bill on Monday.

    The Amotekun Corps when operational is to take charge of security in borders, forest, highways, nooks and crannies of the state to ensure protection against hoodlums, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, bandits etc.

    The Corps can also collaborate with other security platforms in other neighbouring states to ensure strengthening of security network in Lagos and such other states.

    The Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni had informed the House that he received a letter from the state’s Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Moyosore Onigbanjo on Wednesday 19th February, 2020 on the amendment of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Law (LNSC), 2019.

    The House subsequently took the first and second reading of the Bill entitled a House of Assembly Bill No. 5 Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) Amendment Bill 2020 and for connected purposes.

    The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1) said that the Bill is an executive bill, but that it is predicated on the private member bill that established LNSC, which he said has been working well.

    Agunbiade added that the Bill is incorporating the concept of a more dynamic and more strengthened security platform than what they had in Lagos State before.

    “The law only needs amendment to energise and strengthen the law owing to various challenges currently confronting the state and the South West region.

    “It tries to create a unit out of the LNSC to be referred to as Amotekun Corps to take charge of security in certain areas such as in the forest, highway and other places to protect us against hoodlums, cattle rustling, kidnappers, herdsmen, bandits and others.

    “The Amotekun corps is to take charge of security in borders, forest, highways, nooks and crannies of the state to be sure we are protected against hoodlums, herdsmen, cattle rustlers, kidnappers, bandits etc.

    The bill provides for a commander for Amotekun Corps who will be a retired police or army officer, and would bear arms with the approval of the police. “They will cooperate with other security platforms in Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti and Osun States,” he said.

    In his contribution, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu, (Agege 2), while supporting the Bill, commended the foresight of the Lagos State House of Assembly on the security of the state.

    Ogundimu stated that the law covers wider areas and made internal security a priority.

    He called for local content in the bill, adding that they needed people with native intelligence, and that whoever would be appointed as the Head of the unit should be approved by the House.

    In his view, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, (Shomolu 1) said that Amotekun started in Lagos with LNSC, and that the federal police lacked character as their structure has not helped to suppress crime.

    “Security is local and it should be localized. The issue of kidnapping and others give credence to the need for community police.

    “They should be allowed to use guns. They can reduce armed robbery attack, kidnapping and others. We should allow more money into the system.

    “The recruitment of Amotekun should be localized. They should work in their neighbourhood so that they could apprehend criminals in their areas,” he said.

    Also supporting the issue, (Hon.) Rasheed Makinde, Ifako/Ijaiye 2 stated that security is local and that the country was getting close to having state police.

    “We are setting a pace for other political regions in Nigeria. They can assist when there is any accident on our highways. There would be a collaboration amongst the six western states and beyond,” he said.

    While Hon.Setonji David (Badagry 2) said paper qualification must be de-emphasised in recruiting members of the corps, adding that recruitment must be locally based for people living in those communities.

    Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate supported the amendment to insert Amotekun corps in the proposed law.

  • Lagos Assembly Commission appoints Lambo as Executive Secretary

    The Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM) has appointed Ms Abosede Lambo as its Executive Secretary.

    In a letter signed by the commission’s Chairman, Mr Wale Mogaji on Saturday in Lagos, Lambo’s appointment took effect from Feb. 13.

    “In line with the provision of Section 8 Subsection 1 of the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission and reference to the correspondence from the House of Assembly No LSHASC/AD/O/201/71 dated Feb. 11, 2020.

    “I am pleased to inform you that the commission has approved your appointment as secretary to the commission with effect from Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020.

    “The appointment is a reflection of your commitment and selfless service to the State and the Legislative Service in particular.

    “The commission looks forward to your dedication and demonstration of integrity in the discharge of your duties,” he said.

    Until her appointment, Lambo was the Director of Public Affairs in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    Born in March 1962 at Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Lambo attended Baptist Primary School, Ijero, Ebute-Metta (1968-1973), Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls Secondary School, Sabo, Yaba (1974-1979), Lagos State College of Education, Ijanikin (1980-1983) and University of Lagos, Akoka (1884-1988).

    Lambo joined the Lagos State Public Service in February 1990 as an Information Officer and later rose through the ranks to become a director

    She was deployed to the House of Assembly in 2006.

  • Lagos Assembly approves Sanwo-Olu’s re-ordering of N93.7bn from 2019 budget

    Lagos Assembly approves Sanwo-Olu’s re-ordering of N93.7bn from 2019 budget

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has approved the re-ordering of N93,742,530,000 from the 2019 budget size by the state government.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had requested the reordering of 2019 budget size due to shortfall in revenue.

    In a letter read on the floor of the House, Sanwo-Olu lamented lack of new revenue sources for the remaining months of the year, and requested for re-ordering of 2019 budget which stands at N873.532 billion.

    The governor said budgetary provisions of both recurrent and capital budget of ministries, departments and agencies were not likely to be utilized before the end of the year and that the sum of N34.050 billion could be re-ordered.

    The breakdown, he said showed that the recurrent is N24 billion while the capital is N10.050 billion.

    Sanwo-Olu, in the letter stated that the 2019 budget had been partially implemented by the last administration before the tenure came to an end on 29th May, 2019.

    The governor stressed that the present administration was confronted with the need to keep its electoral promises to the citizens and resolved to take advantage of clement weather condition in the later part of the year to complete various projects.

    “The State shall be raising a total of N250 billion broken down into a fixed rate bond of N100 billion from the capital market and an internal loan of N150 billion.

    The speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa had committed the governor’s request to the joint committees on Finance and Budget and Economic planning.

    Presenting the report of the joint Committee on Tuesday, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu stated that the 2019 budget size stood at 71 percent as August.

    According to him, the recurrent performance was 80 percent while the capital was 46 percent.

    In the motion which was moved by Hon Tunde Braimoh, the House approved the capital of N74, 824,648,162 and recurrent 18,918,059,368 to be reordered respectively.

    The Speaker, Obasa said since “it is an unanimous decision. Let’s pass the re-order so that the Governor and his team will continue to do the good work for Lagos residents.”

    Braimoh said, “We need to expeditiously consider the request of the Governor. The Committee had done justice, so let’s approve it so that the people of Lagos can feel our impact.”

    Hon Jude Idimogu also said, “I appreciate the Committee. I urge my colleagues to look at the report and make sure that it is passed.”

  • BREAKING: Lagos Assembly passes 2019 budget

    …Increases budget size by N21.215b

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday afternoon passed the 2019 budget of the state at plenary.

    While the total buget size is N873, 532, 460, 725; capital expenditure stands at N479, 691, 073, 705 and recurrent expenditure is N393, 841, 387, 020.There is a difference of N21.215b from the budget presented by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in February which was N852.317b.

    Details shortly…

     

  • Lagos Assembly: Finally, lone PDP lawmaker defects to APC

    Lagos Assembly: Finally, lone PDP lawmaker defects to APC

    The lone Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the Lagos State House, Mr Dipo Olorunrinu, Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I, on Monday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Olorunrinu lost his re-election bid to APC candidate, Mrs Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, in March 9 House of Assembly election with just 278 votes.

    He vowed not to challenge the result at the election tribunal.

    The lawmaker informed the House of his defection at the plenary through a letter titled: “Letter of Defection from PDP to APC, addressed to the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa.

    The letter was however, read by the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Azeez Sanni.

    The letter read in part: “I have been a young progressive-minded person and I have decided to realign with the APC based on moving trend and party to reckon with taking Lagos State to the next level.

    “I will like to appreciate Mr Speaker for his continuous act of service to my constituency. This explains the magnanimity of Mr Speaker.”

    Olorunrinu earlier, said that in 2015, there were eight PDP members in the House but seven defected adding that, in all sincerity I made bold to say here that, I have never had any regret.

    He said he was happy to still find himself in the midst of great administration.

    “Sincerely, I said to myself that continuity as a young man in politics is a necessity. I said to myself that I must join the progressives’ party, which is the APC.

    “Permit me to say this in this hallowed chamber that the PDP have been discovered by my humble self, as a party that is not to be reckoned with.

    “Not to be reckon with because it is a party that lacks structure, it is a party that lacks visions for Nigeria of tomorrow.

    “That’s the more reason why I said to myself that we must start from here and preach the good news of APC. I want to say a very big thank you to Mr Speaker for accepting me,” Olorunrinu said.

    He apologised to the Speaker for his late defection.

    According to Olorunrinu, he has spoken with his constituents, stakeholders of different cadres on the decision to join the moving train”.

    The Speaker welcomed Olorunrinu to APC and commended him for his decision while other APC lawmakers also received the defector into the party.

    “I thank you for making the decision at last. We welcome you into our midst as members of APC in the House of Assembly.

    “You have always been part of us save the fact that you refused to dump the leaking umbrella but today you have decided, I welcome you on behalf of our party.

    “I want to thank you for lending your voice to what have been our position from quite sometime that the best party in Nigeria today is APC.

    “So there is nothing to gain from PDP, for realising this, I congratulate you.

    “Distinguished colleagues, we are now 40 members of APC. Thank you for joining us,” Obasa said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that eight PDP lawmakers were elected into the 40-member Lagos Assembly in 2015 general elections but seven defected into the ruling party in 2017.

    The seven lawmakers that defected from the PDP earlier included the Minority Leader, Mr Akeem Bello (Amuwo Odofin II), Minority Whip, Mrs Mosunmola Sangodara (Surulere II), and Mr Olusola Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo I).

    Others were Mr Jude Idimogu (Oshodi/Isolo II), Mr Dayo Famakinwa (Ajeromi Ifelodun II) Mr Fatai Oluwa (Ajeromi/Ifelodun I) and Mr Victor Akande (Ojo I)

    While six of the lawmakers defected on Feb.16, 2017, the seventh, Akande moved on July 10 same year, all citing the achievements of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode and the leadership quality of Obasa.

    Five of the seven defectors got the party tickets to return to the House and won their re-election while two, Akeem and Famakinwa could not get the party tickets.

    The candidates of APC won the entire 40 seats in the House of Assembly during the 2019 poll, unlike in 2015 general elections when PDP clinched eight seats.

  • Lagos Assembly receives report on 2019 budget, steps down debate

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has stepped down debate and passage of the state’s 2019 Appropriation Bill after receiving report of its Committee on Economic Planning and Budget.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, on Friday, presented its report after about 80 days that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode laid the 2019 budget proposal of N852.316 billion before the assembly.

    There were rumours that the House would pass the budget on Friday, but the lawmakers stepped down the approval during plenary that commenced at about 4.30 p.m.

    The budget, submitted by Ambode, had a Capital Expenditure of N462.757 billion and a Recurrent Expenditure of 389.560 billion, while the capital to recurrent ratio of the budget stood at 54:46.

    Meanwhile, the House, after receiving the report and recommendations of its committee, headed by Mr Gbolahan Yishawu (APC-Eti-Osa II), premised the stepping down on the voluminous reports.

    Yishawu, while presenting the report, said the committee observed, during extensive deliberation with various ministries, departments and agencies, the need to move some funds from one sector to another.

    According to him, the total revenue proposed for 2019 is believed to be realistic but the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Order needs to be reduced as the empirical reports do not support level of collection.

    He said that this should be reduced from N91 billion to at best N60 billion

    Yishawu, who highlighted areas where revenues, subventions and expenditures needed to be reduced, increased or included from one sector to another, recommended that all MDAs must operate within the enabling appropriation law.

    Presenting the summaries, Yishawu said: “The sum of N395,993,387,020 be approved as the total recurrent expenditure for the year ending Dec. 31, 2019.

    “The sum of N478,866,073,705 be approved as the total capital expenditure for the year ending Dec. 31, 2019.

    “The sum of N874,859,460,725 be approved as the total budget size for the year ending Dec. 31, 2019,” he said.

    On policy issues, Yishawu recommended for the house to direct that the abandoned Lagos State Metropolitan Development and Governance Project were completed before the end of the year.

    He added that the ministry of economic planning and budget should ensure that accountants and planning officers across MDAs were retrained on the budgeting exercise.

    The chairman said that the audited account of the state for 2018 should be submitted to the house.

    “Henceforth, the commissioners for the ministries of economic planning and budget and Finance as well as the Accountant General should forward quarterly reports on the financial status to the house of assembly.

    “The House should caution accounting officers of MDAs that appropriate sanctions will be meted out for the contravention of the provisions of this law.

    “The commissioner for finance and the state accountant general and the permanent decretaries should ensure release of funds to MDAs as at when due and also forward the quarterly report to the house on the financial status of the state with respect to revenues, expenditure and debts and the release of funds to MDAs in accordance with the appropriation law,” he said.

    According to him, the House should direct all MDAs to submit project status reports on or before May 15.

    The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, commended Yishawu and members of the committee for thorough scrutiny of the budget, saying “we can see that you did a lot of jobs with the report”.

    The Majority Leader, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, who said that the reports was technical and required proper debate, moved that the deliberation on the report be moved to another day.

    “I wish to move that further debate on this report be stepped down for another day,” Agunbiade said, and he was supported by Mr Olusegun Olulade (APC-Epe II)

    Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Mr Yinka Ogundimu, presented a report of the House of Assembly Bill Number 59 entitled “Public Procurement Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

    The House, after deliberations on the bill, read for the third time, passed into law “A Bill for a Law to Amend Lagos State Public Procurement Agency Law CH.L.56 VOL.6 Laws of Lagos State and for Connected Purposes.

    The house also read for the third time and passed into law: “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Registration of Domestic Staff Service Providers in Lagos State and for Connected Purposes”.

    It also read for the third time and passed into law: “A Bill for a Law to Amend the Lagos State Public-Private Partnership Law CH.P.18 VOL. 9 Laws of Lagos State 2015 and for Connected Purposes”.

    A Bill for a Law to Amend the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, Law CH. L34 Vol. 5 Laws of Lagos State 2015 and for Connected Purposes was equally passed into law.

    A Bill for a Law to Amend the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law, 2016, for the Regulation and Control of Neighbourhood Safety Corps Activities and for Connected Purposes was also passed into law.

    The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni, to forward clean copies of the bills to the governor for assent.

    NAN reports that yesterday marked the first time the House would hold plenary session on a Friday since the inauguration of the eighth Assembly on June 8, 2015.

    The House adjourned till Monday.

  • 2019: 10 lawmakers who will not return to Lagos Assembly

    Ten lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly will not return for the 9th Assembly, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The publication of final list of candidates for the state assembly election in Lagos State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reveals that some lawmakers’ names were missing.

    While some of these lawmakers lost out in their aspirations to return to the house, and others who wanted to represent their respective federal constituencies in the House of Representatives failed at primary elections.

    The lawmakers who couldn’t secure return tickets to the house during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, according to findings are: Messrs Akeem Bello (Amuwo Odofin II) and Sola Giwa (Lagos Island)

    Others are: Oladele Adekanye (Lagos Mainland I) and Dayo Famakinwa (Ajeromi-Ifelodun I).

    The four are all first term lawmakers in the house.

    Bello, the former Minority Leader of the House and Famakinwa were part of the seven lawmakers that defected in 2017 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC.

    Other PDP defectors include Mr Victor Akande (Ojo I); Olusola Sokunle (Oshodi-Isolo I); Jude Idimogu (Oshodi-Isolo II); Fatai Oluwa (Ajeromi-Ifelodun II) and Mrs Mosunmola Sangodara (Surulere II).

    Out of the other six lawmakers who aspired to represent Lagos in the National Assembly, only Mr Bayo Osinowo (Kosofe I) became the candidate of APC for Lagos East.

    The likes of Messrs Segun Olulade (Epe II), Lanre Ogunyemi (Ojo II); Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin I); Saka Fafunmi (Ifako Ijaiye) and Mrs Omotayo Oduntan who aspired to get ticket to their federal constituencies all failed.

    30 other lawmakers, including the only PDP member in the house, Mr Dipo Olorunrinu (Amuwo Odofin I), got their return tickets.

    If they emerge winners at the poll, they will all be back in the assembly in few months.

    Fourty-five candidates are currently contesting the Lagos State governorship seat, while 640 candidates will be jostling for the 40 seats in the state house of assembly.

  • Lagos Assembly summons three commissioners over indiscriminate refuse dump

    Worried by the heaps of refuse across the Lagos State, the state House of Assembly on Thursday summoned three Commissioners, their respective Permanent Secretaries as well as the Accountant General of the state.

    The resolution followed a motion moved under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, by Mr Lanre Ogunyemi the Chairman, House Committee on Education.

    Ogunyemi expressed his displeasure that refuse had taken over Lagos.

    The House summoned the Accountant-General, Mrs Abimbola Umar, to come and brief them on all issues surrounding the handing over of the state environmental matters to Visionscape.

    The Assembly also summoned the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem; the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade and the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti.

    The House directed the Permanent Secretaries of the affected ministries to appear before its ad hoc committee on the matter alongside the commissioners.

    They also said the Commissioner for Finance and Accountant-General of the State should stop further payment to Visionscape pending the outcome of their investigation.

    The House constituted an eight-man Ad-Hoc Committee that the affected public officers should report to.

    The committee is headed by Mr Bayo Oshinowo, the Chairman, House Committee on Lands.

    Other members include Mr Yinka Ogundimu, Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Mrs Funmilayo Tejuoso, Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Petitions.

    Mr Abiodun Tobun, Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, Mr Saka Fafunmi, Chairman, House Committee on Environment and Mr Mosbood Oshun, Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (State) are also members.

    The rest are Mr Gbolahan Yishawu, the Chairman, House Ad hoc Committee on Budget and Economic Planning and Mr Rasheed Makinde, Chairman, House Committee on House Services.

    Ogunyemi representing Ojo Constituency II in the House, said there was the need to avert serious epidemic in the state.

    “It is known by everybody that refuse is now taking over the streets of Lagos.

    “I observe that there is need to address the menace. It is an eyesore that brings shame to the State,” Ogunyemi said.

    The lawmaker recalled that the state witnessed serious flooding in previous years due to drainage blockage.

    He said the refuse in the state posed more danger that could lead to a recurrence.

    The lawmaker said the company in charge in the collection and disposal of the waste — Visionscape — had failed to meet up line in with the vision provided in the new law passed to tackle issues around refuse in the State.

    In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, said: “the consolidated law on the Environment which the House passed was in order.

    “But it needs to be pointed out that a provision of the concession included in the law was not complied with.

    “The government ought to revert to the House before bringing in Visionscape.

    “The law was made in the interest of Lagos residents; it is to benefit the people.

    “We don’t know visionscape, so we can only invite those that we know — those that the law recognises.”

    The lawmakers took turns to condemn inappropriate management of waste in the state, saying it would have adverse effects on health of residents.

    Some lawmakers said that the handing over of waste management to Visionscape was retrogressive.

    Yishawu wondered how the State Government was funding visionscape despite the resolution of the House in 2018 budget that the fund should be domiciled in Consolidated revenue in the ministry of budget.