Year: <span>2018</span>

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has called on Nigerians to continue to pray for a peaceful and successful General Elections in the country.

The Lagos Assembly Speaker also saluted Nigerians for their resourcefulness, courage, prayers and support which have been vital to the successes so far recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration at all levels of governance.

Rt. Hon. Obasa’s message was contained in his New Year message via a press released on Monday, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak.

“Nigerians are very resourceful and courageous and it is obvious that all these, coupled with their prayers and support, have been very vital in the successes recorded so far by the APC administration at all levels. Indeed our people deserve special recognition and praise for this,” he said.

He urged Nigerians not to relent in praying for the government especially for a peaceful and successful General Elections in 2019. “We will not relent in seeking for more support and prayers from our people. This is especially needed for a peaceful and successful General Elections,” Rt. Hon. Obasa said.

The Lagos Assembly Speaker assured Nigerians that the APC administration at all levels will continue to put in place programmes and projects that will enhance their welfare and improve their standard of living. “The APC administration is committed to improving the lives of our people and we will not relent in doing this,” he said.

Rt. Hon. Obasa concluded: “On behalf of my colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2019”.

Owing to constant gridlock on Lagos State roads, the State House of Assembly has urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the state to direct the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) to intensify traffic control in the state.According to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the traffic situation in the state has become worrisome.The Speaker,  who raised the matter on the floor of the House during plenary on Tuesday, added that it was the responsibility and duty of the state government to ensure free flow of traffic in the state.”This is one of the duties of LASTMA. We should call on LASTMA and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to order the leaders of LASTMA to ensure free flow of traffic in the state.”LASTMA officials should stop the actions of folding arms, while motorists and okada riders do whatever they like on the roads. Any official that fails to perform his or her duty should be sanctioned. “We need to take adequate steps on this,” he said.The Speaker also ordered the clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to write the family of the LASTMA official, Adeyemo Rotimi that was killed by an officer of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Joseph Oki in Iyana Ipaja area of the state in November 2018.He added that that the House Committee on Transport should pay a courtesy call on the family of the deceased.”Something must be done about the gridlock all the same. The LASTMA officials are being paid salaries. We know that this is Yuletide period, but we must ensure that there is free flow of traffic in the state.”We will write the Governor to call on LASTMA and VIO to ensure free flow of traffic on all our roads in Lagos State while motorists should also obey traffic laws. “We sympathise with LASTMA for losing one of their personnel, and we want the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state to initiate a process of compensation for the family of the deceased,” he said.It will be recalled that a police inspector attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Ikeja allegedly shot dead an official with the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) while controlling traffic on Wednesday 28, November, 2018.

Sources said that the LASTMA official, named Adeyemo Rotimi, was shot dead at Iyana Ipaja area of LLagos.

The LASTMA official was shot dead when he challenged the policeman, identified as Joseph Oki, for disobeying traffic rules.

The victim, popularly known as ‘Baba Ibeji’, had stopped the police inspector who was driving a cream coloured Highlander jeep with registration number plate LSR 277 BJ to allow free flow of traffic.

It was gathered that the LASTMA official reportedly scolded the policeman for flouting traffic rules.

According to sources, the policeman, who felt insulted by Adeyemo’s warning, allegedly pulled a pistol and shot the LASTMA official in the eye, killing him on the spot.In his contribution to the matter, the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2l advised that residents of the state should behave themselves on the road.Abiru stated that the vehicles on the roads are not all owned by the government. He added that this is ember period and that there are more activities in Lagos. Also contributing, Hon. Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho 1)  said that the manhour lost on the road is much. “We should appeal to the state government to return the power of LASTMA because they cannot arrest traffic offenders now. “The way LASTMA ofdicials are killed on our roads is inhuman. “Just three weeks ago, a LASTMA official stopped a vehicle that was going on one way, then a police officer shot the LASTMA official at close range. The state government should give LASTMA power as it happens in others places. They have been subjected to serious humiliation,” he said.Also, Hon. Tunde Braimoh (Kosofe 2) said that the matter was of grave concern and that it is scaring people away from Lagos.He suggested that the House should invite the head of LASTMA to interface with the Transport Committee of the House on the matter.The Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade stated that it would be proper if the letter of condolence was handed over to the family of the deceased LASTMA official by the Chairman of the House Committee on Transport. He said that the FSARS officer, who shot the LASTMA officer should be sanctioned post humously. “We should demand on behalf of the LASTMA family that died that the police should compensate members of his official,” he said.However, the House would be commemorating 2018 Hijrah, commission the newlt constructed assembly mosque and organise prayers for the celebration of the 76th birthday of President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, 21, December, 2018.
Meanwhile, the House has adjourned plenary to Monday 7, January, 2019,

The Lagos State House of Assembly has condemned the increasing rate of armed robbers on Lagos roads, especially in traffic jams.It was the agreed that undercover police should be posted all over the state.Hon. Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere Constituency 1 brought the matter under Matter Under Public Importance during plenary on Monday.Hon. Elliot had pointed the attention of the lawmakers to the high incidents of robberies in Surulere during hold ups, saying that the men of the underworld capitalise on the traffic jams to rob motorists, adding that there should security on the roads on a 24-hour basis.”The police should increase undercover police, secure all the black spots on our roads, and articulated vehicles should be made to ply one lane by the Commissioner for Transportation as expected, while the Director General of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) should ensure that his men properly man our roads,” he said.Supporting the matter, Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu Constituency 1), said that street lights provided in Shomolu area do not work at the appropriate period.He suggested that Public Works Corporation (PWC) should be mandated to block the pot holes on Lagos roads, while men of LNSC should work closely with the Nigerian Police to ensure security on the roads.Also speaking, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu (Agege 2), stated that armed robbery is not limited to any area in the state and that Agege is no exempted. He stated that they know the black spots, and that they should go there and arrest the criminals before they move, and ensure the immediate repair of roads.In his own comment, Hon. Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho 1) stated that street trading should be discouraged, saying that some of the armed robbers disguise like traders on the roads, and that “the boys intentionally cut the roads so that they could commit crime.”Another lawmaker, Hon. Tunde Braimoh (Kosofe 2) commented that there is always upsurge in crime during the end of the year and at electioneering period.”What we need is beyond patrol by police. They cannot patrol when the roads are blocked. They can station themselves in strategic places and work with the LNSC men to arrest the robbers,” he said.Hon. Dayo Saka-Fafunmi from Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency 1 stated that security has always been an issue during ember period. Fafunmi said that the bandits either come as traders or okada riders, adding that the state needs to restrict movement of okada riders in some places. He added that men of LNSC needed to be involved and that they should move around to ensure security, while lamenting that Nigerian policemen usually mingle with people and compromise the security of people.Also commenting, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh (Apapa 2) advised that the issue called for a conference rather than just a discussion.He said that armed robbery has always been there since the 70s and 80s, and that the state should go back go the issue of odd and even number to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads.”We can go back to rail system so that most of our goods would be moved by rail. We have about four ports in Apapa. This is the largest in the country and the trucks are spoiling the roads,” he said.Also, Hon. Sikiriu Oshinowo (Kosofe 1) said that crime is an umbrella for kidnappers, robbers and others. Oshinowo stressed that no country has curbed crime, but that they can only reduce or prevent it. He said: “We need undercover police in many places, where they would pretend to be criminals so that they could catch the bandits. We can alert the Inspector General of Police through the Commissioner of Police to increase undercover police to monitor our roads and streets in Lagos.”The issue was supported by all the members of the House after a voice vote conducted by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.Meanwhile, the House has confirmed the six nominees of Governor Ambode for both the Lagos State Public Procurement Commission and the state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).The nominees were screened by the Assembly Tuesday, last week.Mr. Onafowote Fatai Idowu was confirmed for the position of General Manager, Lagos State Public Procurement Commission.He attended University of Ibadan and studied agriculture, biochemistry and nutrition.Also, Mrs. Elizabeth Olabisi Ariyo was confirmed for the position of the Chairman of the board of TESCOM was Mrs. Elizabeth Olabisi Ariyo.Ariyo was born in 1956, and she attended United Missionary College and got Grade 2 Teachers Certificate, taught in Ilesha, Osun State. She also studied at the University of Lagos from 1982 to 1986 and studied English Language. Also confirmed as a member of the commission was Mr. Jacob Mahonu Ashaka.Ashaka was born in 1958 in Topo, Badagry. In 1976, he proceeded to Government Teachers Training College, Badagry for Grade 2 Certificate and was employed as a teacher. Another nominee confirmed to be on the board of TESCOM was Mrs. Sidikat Titilayo Smith.Smith was born in 1954 and attended the University of Lagos, where she studied Biology Education. She was also cleared by the House for the position.Mr. Adeleke Oluwaseun Kara was also confirmed to be a member of TESCOM. Kara went to the Federal College of Education, Okenne, and later taught at Teachers College, Ikorodu before going to the University of Ibadan to study Guidance and Counseling.The fifth nominee confirmed for TESCOM was Mrs. Hadijat Hassan Kuburat. Kuburat was born in 1965 and attended Lagos State University, where she studied Political Science and later got masters degree and is undergoing Phd Programme at the University of Ilorin.The nominees were confirmed after a voice vote supervised by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.The House then adjourned sitting to Tuesday 18 December, 2018.

The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has set up a reconciliatory cum fact-finding committee to intervene and amicably resolve the crises in some state Houses of Assembly in the country.

This was part of the decision reached at the end of the 3rd Quarter General Meeting of the Conference which took place between 7 and 8 December, 2018 in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.

Reading the communique after the end of the meeting on Sunday morning, the Chairman of the Conference and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the Conference stated that its intervention hinged on the need “to not only ensure amicable resolution of the crises, but also to ensure good governance”.

Rt. Hon. Obasa stated further that the Conference also cautioned the Judiciary especially the lower courts to exercise caution by not interfering with constitutionally assigned roles already undertaken by the Legislature but should wait until the conclusion of such matters.

“The Conference regrets that Judiciary is fast becoming a clog in the advancement of our democracy and strongly decries a wave of recent judgments undemocratically preventing state assemblies from perforrming their constitutionally-guaranteed functions of oversight of the Executive arm of government relating to cases of bribery and corruption.

“We call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to check this trend before judges truncate our democracy,” the Communique added.

The Conference also called on the Nigeria Police to be more professional in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities by desisting from invading and occupying state Legislative Houses in the country. “The Conference sees the frequent unprovoked invasions of the legislative houses by the police as unprofessional, detrimental and runs contrary to the entrenchment of democratic values and culture,” the statement added.