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Photos As Speaker Obasa, Lawmakers Get Certificate Of Return

– Legislators thank Lagosians for mandate

The Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and other lawmakers-elect received their Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday promising to ensure a greater Lagos at the 10th Assembly.

“On behalf of my colleagues, we will continue to build on the success of the current Assembly when we resume for the 10th Assembly. We want to assure Lagosians that we will continue to make laws, pass motions and resolutions that will bring progress to Lagos and protect the interests of residents.

“That’s the assurance that I have from the 39 other members-elect,” Dr. Obasa told journalists at the event which had Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat in attendance.

A total of 38 lawmakers-elect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and two from the opposition received their Certificate of Return.

The Speaker thanked his constituents in Agege and Lagosians for their support for the APC.

“I thank my people in Agege for their consistency, loyalty and support at all times. And to Lagosians, we say thank you. At least APC has 38 lawmakers-elect out of the 40 for the House of Assembly. We have the three senatorial seats and a whole lot in the House of Representatives. We are very happy about this and have reasons to thank Lagosians.

“We are going to support the Governor in his assignments to bring growth and progress to Lagos State as well as protect the lives and property of our people. However, supporting the executive arm does not mean we are going to compromise or abandon our constitutionally guaranteed responsibilities,” Obasa said.

He expressed optimism that Lagos will benefit from the centre in the next administration because “we have a President-elect that we all have absolute confidence in and who had done very well in Lagos State with good track record.

“We are sure that with him, many of our national challenges would be resolved because he has the capacity and knowledge to deliver. I have no doubt in my mind about it.”

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Lagos Assembly Sets Up Committee Over Poor Primary Healthcare Facilities

A five-man committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly was on Monday saddled with the responsibility of carrying out oversight over reported poor primary healthcare facilities in the State.

Members of the House of the House resumed after the 2023 general election with a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ on issues relating to scarcity of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in some areas of the State. In areas with the centres, some of the lawmakers complained of poor facilities and lack of enough medical personnel.

Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, who presided over the plenary, named Deputy Leader of the House, Noheem Adams as chairman of the Committee. The other members include Rotimi Abiru, Hakeem Sokunle, Owolabi Ajani and Jude Idimogu. They are to report to the House in two weeks.

Dr. Obasa noted that every ward in Lagos deserves a well-equipped PHC for effective medical attention of residents.

“I will go with those who suggest that each ward should have a PHC since health facilities should be very close to the people. We have some wards that are very big and must be taken into cognisance.

“To make sure we do justice to this motion, it is proper we have a committee in place. We must also ensure budgetary provision at the local government level.

“We should call on local government chairmen to ensure that they have centres in each ward. And it should not be about fanciful structures alone but the service,” he said.

Raising the motion, Hon. Adams said Lagos has 327 functional health care centres in Lagos stressing that these are not enough for the about 22 million people resident in the State.

He said there was need for more personnel to be employed while more facilities should be built.

Hon. Temitope Adewale suggested the need to know who should be responsible for provision of primary healthcare system.

While noting that each ward should have a PHC, he lamented that Ifako-Ijaiye with seven wards and five centres has just two that are fully functional.

Contributing, Hon. David Setonji described PHCs as the most critical since it is closest to the people, “but the number we have in Lagos is very low.”

Hon. Suraj told his colleagues that issues relating to non-functioning health centres came to the fore during the electioneering.

On his part, Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, urged the House to spend the remaining days of the current tenure on oversight relating to the issue while Desmond Elliot called for collaboration between the local and state governments in this regard.

Hon. Tobun Abiodun suggested that there should be ways to make personnel stay in communities they are deployed to while Hon. Adedamola Kasunmu called for an invitation to the State’s primary healthcare board for details on the state of PHCs in Lagos.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, however, expressed hope that more healthcare facilities would be built and equipped as the State government already budgeted about ₦15b in 2023 for the purpose.

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Lagos Assembly Says 2023 Election Free, Credible

– Congratulates Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, Obasa
– Condemns hate speeches, ethnicity, tribalism, religious sentiment

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima for winning what lawmakers described as a free and credible 2023 presidential election.

The House also congratulated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat while calling Speaker Obasa a ‘record breaker’ for being re-elected a sixth time to represent Agege Constituency 1 at the House.

The lawmakers further resolved to send congratulatory messages to the President-elect, the Governor of Lagos State, and the elected members of the National Assembly, while the House would send a commendation letter each to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for their roles at ensuring a peaceful general election, especially in Lagos State.

While commending the electorate for voting during the exercise, the House further admitted that the election has become an opportunity for elected official to learn some lessons going forward.

“I think this is an opportunity for our political scientists to x-ray the situation. This was an election where some sitting governors lost to opposition.

“The election has come and gone but there is a need to look again at ourselves to see what we have left undone and what we need to sustain, how we can manage the social contract we have with the people,” he said.

Dr. Obasa noted that even the United States that is considered a leading democracy still conducts elections that some some candidates challenge as not perfect.

“I am saying this to those who have been beating drums of war and anger. We must learnt to endure and accept the outcomes of election but that does not mean we cannot legally challenge the outcome. We need to be more patriotic, we have a nation that we must protect, we have had an election and it is worthy,” he said.

“We need to call everyone to order that the process of election is what everyone must comply with.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket was a bold one and had those who favoured it and those who were against it, but at the end, the election has happened. “It was a good election and it was successful.”

For those sponsoring inciting comments on social media, Obasa urged for caution reminding them to understand that freedom of expression also has limitations.

“We must give kudos to President Buhari for being upright during the election and also commend INEC and the people who voted.

“For us at the Lagos Assembly, the election went well as we had 38 and we hope that the remaining two will join us after exploring legal means to recover their victories. Lagos also got 20 elected House of Representatives members and the three senators.

“It shows that the people of Lagos love us and support what we are doing right,” he said as he thanked Agege people for returning him to the House.

Earlier, the lawmakers who took turns to speak about the election, expressed optimism that the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu would liberate citizens from the shackles of poverty, divisive tendencies and youth restiveness.

Leader of the House, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, moving a motion under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, observed that despite the peaceful nature of the elections, there had been lots of dust that needs to be addressed.

According to him, “We need to conscientise ourselves, not to enable the haters and those who are peddling rumours to incite members of the public. Elections are over but national healing is necessary. We should encourage members of the public not to join in hot arguments.”

Other lawmakers including Yinka Ogundimu, Bisi Yusuff, Setonji David, Adedamola Kasunmu and Victor Akande, congratulated Obasa for his victory noting that his leadership of the House produced a Senator and Rep member-elect.

The lawmakers also expressed confidence in him saying they would love him to lead the House in the 10th Assembly.

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Ramadan: Let’s Imbibe Lessons In Piety, Tolerance, Speaker Obasa Tells Muslims

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has said that the 30-day Islamic fasting affords Muslim faithful the opportunity to rededicate themselves to the religious tenets of piety, tolerance, forgiveness and love.

Dr. Obasa added that the Ramadan is a period of sober reflection, supplications and humility before Almighty Allah.

Obasa, in his Ramadan message released by Eromosele Ebhomele, his Chief Press Secretary, also congratulated Muslims in Lagos and Nigeria for having the divine privilege of being alive to partake in ‘Sawm’ and observe one of the five pillars of Islam.

The Speaker equally described the Ramadan as a period for Muslims in Lagos and Nigeria to show more commitment and adherence to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, especially in the area of alms giving and love for one another.

Noting that the fasting came at the right time for Nigerians as the country just conducted the 2023 general election with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the President-elect, the Speaker urged Muslims to pray for the leadership of the country as well as the incoming administrations at national and state levels.

“We thank Almighty Allah for the privilege He has given us to partake in this Ramadan. We also thank Him for all that He has done for us individually, for our State and our country.

“Just as we seek the face of Allah for our individual needs at this period, let us also remember our country, especially at this time. We are happy Allah answered our Special Tawaf of last year on the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Now that victory has been recorded, let’s all use this period to pray for the success of the forthcoming administration.

“As we fast, let’s not forget that alms giving is a cardinal principle in Islam just like it is in every religion. We should spend each day sharing love and reaching out to others.

“The Holy Qur’an instructs us to ‘Spend in God’s cause: do not contribute to your destruction with your own hands, but do good, for God loves those who do good.’

“Let’s not also forget to be pious, humble, tolerant of each other and obey every of Allah’s instructions now and always. Ramadan Kareem!” Obasa said while praying that every Nigerian would reap the reward of Ramadan.

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Naira Redesign: Lagos Assembly Commends NASS

– Says Nigerians are suffering, economy in danger

The Naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has brought mass suffering on the citizens of the country while the economy is in danger, the Lagos State House of Assembly has lamented.

The lawmakers further noted that even though the policy was a good one, its timing was wrong as it had further thrown the country into economic chaos which could become difficult to resolve if urgent steps are not taken.

The CBN had announced a 10-day extension of the deadline for currency swap at the weekend, but at a sitting presided over by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on Tuesday, the lawmakers urged the CBN to extend the deadline for currency swap as the policy had not helped the country.

Dr. Obasa noted that the concern of the lawmakers had to do with the pains, anguish and anger spreading among Nigerians over their inability to access the new currency.

“Economists have said most times you cannot use new currency to control inflation, it doesn’t achieve the purpose most times,” Obasa said adding that the intention of the policy as claimed by CBN had been defeated owing to the various complaints from experts and people across the country.

The Speaker said the CBN should have engaged stakeholders while citizens should have been adequately carried along rather than an ‘over-night’ policy by the CBN.

“There are people in the rural areas. It is obvious that the additional 10 days is not even going to be enough.

“The idea is a good one but the way it is being implemented will have an adverse effect on the people.

“We need to commend the National Assembly for showing quality representation and prompt action to intervene for an extension of the deadline.”

The Speaker said that in other countries, old currencies are not discarded in a rush, but allowed to gradually fade out of the system.

Hon. Rotimi Olowo, the lawmaker representing Somolu Constituency 1 who moved the motion, sought for an extension of the deadline till July 2023 in line with the resolution of the National Assembly, while noting the suffering the policy had brought on Nigerians.

Olowo complained about the unavailability of the new notes and the effect on the people, including small business owners and those in rural areas.

Contributing to the motion, Hon. Saka Solaja, chairman of the House committee on public account for state, argued that financial policies are not implemented the way the CBN had gone about the Naira redesign.

“We see videos of people beating themselves mercilessly at ATMs, yet there is no money,” he lamented while supporting the call for an extension of the deadline by the CBN.

On his part, Hon. Richard Kasunmu (Ikeja II) argued that the timing of the policy was not right, especially as the country was still grappling with challenges of effective internet connectivity.

He recalled how he spent five hours a day earlier trying to make an electronic transfer of ₦55,000 to resolve an emergency situation.

“We should be looking at the larger Nigerian people. If we want to survive the Nigerian economy, this should not be a good time for such policy,” he said.

While Hon. Victor Akande (Ojo 1), argued that Emefiele breached a part of the CBN Act concerning the policy, Hon. Setonji David noted: “All over the world, CBN governors are economists, not bankers like Emefiele.

“Our people are suffering and the money can’t be found at the ATMs. If you go to the ATMs, you would see how people are struggling,” he lamented.

The motion was passed by the Speaker after a voice vote of all the members at the sitting.

 

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Lagos Assembly Adopts Recommendations On Proposed Tertiary Hospitals

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday adopted recommendations of its Committee on Health Services for the proposed upgrade of some general hospitals to tertiary health institutions.

Five general hospitals may benefit from the planned upgrade with the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa, saying secondary health centres like the ones in Badagry and Ikorodu established since the 1950s should benefit.

The resolution was made after a deliberation on the report submitted by the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Hon. Olusola Sokunle.

In the report, the Chairman said that the committee went on a fact-finding mission to the general hospitals across the state to know the suitable hospitals that could be upgraded to tertiary institutions.

Sokunle said upgrading the general hospitals would reduce the pressure on the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

His committee also recommended the establishment of renal and neurological departments in the proposed upgraded hospitals.

The committee further recommended the overhauling of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) by the state government with the local governments intensifying awareness and sensitisation about the usefulness of the centres.

According to Sokunle, land mass, high tech equipment and quality of medical personnel were part of the considerations by the committee.

Debating the report, Hon. Wahab Jimoh (Apapa 2), observed that there was need to consider other general hospitals within the Lagos Island Division, saying that general hospitals within the Lagos Mainland axis should be considered.

 

The Chief Whip, Hon. Mojisola Meirada (Apapa 1), argued that aside the establishment of renal departments in the upgraded general hospitals, there should be trauma and bone departments in each of them.

She said this would help in reducing the pressure on the Gbagada hospital trauma facility.

In his contribution, Hon. Moshood Oshun ( Lagos Mainland 2), made case for the establishment of more general hospitals across the state instead of converting five hospitals to tertiary health facilities.

However, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, said that there was need to sustain the glory of the five general hospitals by upgrading them to tertiary health institutions.

Obasa said there was need to create synergy among general hospitals addi g that there must be regular sensitisation to make Primary Healthcare Centres more functional.

The Speaker further suggested the need for effective data collation for adequate information that could help determine if a Renal Specialist Hospital should be established.

 

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Nigerians Will Enjoy A Better 2023 With Tinubu As President, Says Obasa

– Speaker congratulates Nigerians over New Year

– Urges massive support for Sanwo-Olu

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has expressed optimism that Nigerians will experience a better 2023 with the citizens voting massively to elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their President.

Dr. Obasa said this in his New Year message on Sunday, while congratulating Nigerians for witnessing the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023.

Obasa, in a statement released by Eromosele Ebhomele, his Chief Press Secretary, said with less than two months to the general election, only Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is better positioned to succeed President Buhari, who will leave office on May 29, 2023.

He described Tinubu as the hope Nigerians currently have for a better country judging from the positive result of the foundation the former governor laid in Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.

The Speaker specifically commended Lagosians for ensuring continuity in the government of the State saying this consistency in electing candidates from the progressives had produced a Lagos that is today the fifth largest economy in Africa.

“The consistency by the electorate in Lagos has produced the right leadership and results with our dear State enjoying some firsts in different sectors of the economy and human existence.

“Lagos has become a reference point for other states and some African countries because of the structures that have been put in place since 1999 to mitigate perceived or projected challenges facing the massively growing city. We have maintained pro-activeness as a government.

“We now have a State that has become very attractive to investors and those seeking for better life because of our people-oriented laws, motions and resolutions as well as the synergy among the arms of government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this is what Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants to replicate at the centre, a Nigeria where equity would become the norm.

“Just as I congratulate Nigerians for witnessing 2023, I want to urge us all to enter the year with renewed hope that the country will be greater than previous years and that Tinubu will take over the reigns of leadership.

“Here in Lagos, I want to urge the residents to encourage our party, the APC, by re-electing our dear Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, especially for his positive strides in the governance, growth and development of our State.

“We should also ensure this electoral victory touches every APC senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidate in the forthcoming election.

“We will not relent as we continue to build the State of our future,” the Speaker said.

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Why Bill On Surrogacy, Human Fertilisation Is Important In Lagos – Obasa

– Obasa commends colleagues for their sacrifice

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed a total of ₦1,768,014,155,285 as the budget for 2023 with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, thanking the lawmakers for their collective sacrifice and swiftness with which the Appropriation Bill was handled.

A breakdown of the approved budget size shows the sum of
N748,096,508,571 as Recurrent expenditure and N1,019,917,646,713 as Capital expenditure for the year
ending 31st December, 2023.

A part of the breakdown for the sectoral allocations also shows that N3,228,396,960 was approved as the new Overhead Cost of the Office of Civic Engagement for drug abuse advocacy.

The sum of N802,987,206 was approved as the new Capital Expenditure of the Ministry
of Economic Planning & Budget while N1,200,000,000 was approved as the new Overhead Cost (Social Intervention
and Humanitarian Programme) in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

Dr. Obasa, who presided over the plenary, said the passion with which the lawmakers processed the bill for passage showed their love for the progress of Lagos State.

He also expressed hope that residents of the State would show their satisfaction with the lawmakers and the All Progressives Congress (APC) by voting for candidates of the party in Lagos and at the centre during the forthcoming election.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in October presented the sum of N1.69 trillion ‘budget of continuity’ to the House.

While receiving the proposal from the Governor, Speaker Obasa had urged that the 2023 budget “should have more human face, be targeted at reducing poverty and improving the welfare of the residents of the State as part of the THEMES agenda of the administration.”

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2023 Budget: We Must Ask The Right Questions, Lagos Speaker Tasks Lawmakers

…As Assembly holds retreat

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has charged committees of the House to ensure a proper screening of the 2023 budget of the State so as to close the gap between the estimated figure and revenue generated.

Dr. Obasa spoke on Sunday during his remarks at a 3-day budget retreat tagged ‘Consolidating the gains of the current administration in Lagos State in a transition year: prospects, opportunities and recommendations’ organised for lawmakers and staff of the Lagos Assembly.

Commending the lawmakers for their passion to ensure a greater Lagos, Obasa tasked the committees to constantly be steps ahead so their members could ask ministries, departments and agencies the right questions during budget defence and oversight.

“All over the world, the economy has been bad and affects whether a budget would be surplus or deficit. Here in Lagos, we have our own challenge.

“So bridging the gap between the budget size and revenue is what the House of Assembly should do. When the executive arm determines the cost of projects, the committees should be able to check for the value of such projects.

“I am sure everyone recognises what we have been doing in Lagos and I urge you to continue so that you can always be appreciated,” he urged the lawmakers.

Earlier welcoming participants to the retreat, which ended on Sunday, the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, it was an opportunity for the members of the Assembly to familiarise themselves with the breakdown of the 2023 budget “in order to ensure effective continuity in budgetary guidance from lawmakers to Lagosians.”

Ibitel Consultant, which collaborated with the Assembly to organise the retreat, said it would help the members to reflect deeply on the ₦1.692 trillion 2023 budget recently presented by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“The objective is to reflect on the 2023 budget as presented by the Governor with a view to getting a direction,” John Mutu, representative of the organisation said.

He added that the retreat would enable lawmakers effectively do a post mortem of the 2022 budget and identify other priorities of the State that can be accommodated in that of 2023.

The retreat ends on Sunday, November 14, 2022.