Category: <span>Press Release</span>

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, on Wednesday, said the proposed law on Value Added Tax (VAT) would help the state meet more of its developmental goals.

Obasa said this during a public hearing on a bill for the Lagos State Value Added Tax (VAT) and for other connected purposes.

This was as stakeholders at the hearing commended the Lagos State Assembly and its leadership for their determination to ensure that the bill becomes law.

In his remark, Obasa noted that states have always felt financially strangulated and unfairly treated by the Federal Government in her administration and appropriation of receipts of VAT.

Speaking through the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, who represented him, Obasa said that Lagos state generates an excess of N500 billion in VAT.

“If we go by generation trend in tandem with the N2.4 trillion forecasted by the FIRS, Lagos state will be contributing about 55 percent of the total VAT collectables in the entire country.

“But what do we get in return? Some paltry sum. This injustice and inequity are part of the premises on which some of the extant agitations are founded.”

The Speaker said this agitation had been helped by the judgement of a Federal High Court in the case of the Attorney General of Rivers State versus the Federal Inland Revenue Service (2020) in which the rights of Rivers state (by extension, other states) were upheld.

“Though the FIRS has unexpectedly appealed the judgement to the Court of Appeal, it is expected that the appellate court will follow the sound logic in the Federal High Court decision,” he said.

The Speaker said the proposed law would allow the state more resources to meet its developmental goals.

“More so, this action brings to the fore of actualization, the true federalism for which we have been agitating,” he added.

On his part, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosere Onigbanjo (SAN), said every state of the federation stood to benefit from the judgement of the court.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon Rotimi Olowo, said even though Lagos is prosperous, it can do better and VAT will help with the resources it needs.

“We know that the resources in the state are overstretched,” he said adding that the proposed law has benefits on the state and its residents.

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday committed the bill on open grazing to the committee on agriculture after it scaled second reading.

The House also read for the first and second time the state’s Value Added Tax bill and asked the committee on finance which is handling it to report back on Thursday.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, described the ‘Prohibition of Open Cattle Grazing Bill’ as timely and one that would ensure harmonious relationships between herders and farmers and protect the environment of the state and the southwest zone.

The Speaker also suggested that the bill should make provision for the registration of herders and prepare them for ranching.

“Allocating parcel of land is not enough but there should be training of those who would go into ranching,” he said noting that ranching is expensive and required adequate preparation.

Concerning the bill on VAT, Speaker Obasa said it would lead to “increase in revenue and increase in infrastructural development. This is in line with fiscal federalism that we have been talking about.”

Obasa said the VAT law when passed, would help the state meet challenges in its various sectors. He also urged the Lagos State government to do everything legally possible to ensure the judgement of a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, is sustained even up to the Supreme Court.

He lamented a situation where about 500 billion is generated from Lagos State while 300 billion is generated from other southwest states and paltry amounts are disbursed to them in return.

“It is an opportunity for us to emphasise again on the need for the consideration of true federalism,” he said.

Speaking earlier on the bill on open grazing, Hon. Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1), lamented the havoc that herdsmen had caused in the southwestern zone.

According to him, farmers have continuously become afraid to visit their farms thus causing shortage of food. He also said many farmers had become indebted as they now find it difficult to pay back loans they secured.

He said it was lamentable that cattle roam the streets causing accidents and embarrassing people.

He advocated for stiffer penalties for herders caught carrying firearms.

His position was supported by Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 2) who said open grazing in the 21st century is an aberration.

Joseph said the bill would ensure peaceful coexistence, reduce crime and help to guide the activities of herders.

On his part, Hon. Olumoh Saad Lukeman (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1), suggested that the high court should be made to handle cases from the enforcement of the bill when passed or that the state should establish special courts for such purpose.

 

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, in his contribution, described Lagos as a cosmopolitan state and, as such, having to see cattle in the streets is worrisome.

He expressed support for the bill because, according to him, it would give a level of security to the state and help reduce economic losses. He added that Lagos has 250 hectares of land in Ikorodu and another 750 hectares on Epe for ranching.

Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe 1) said it was common to see cattle going to school as if they want to learn while Hon. David Setonji (Badagry 2), recalled “a time we went on oversight function in a school here in Lagos. We were embarrassed by cattle. We had to wait for the herder to move the cattle before we embarked on our oversight function.”

Setonji suggested a collaboration between men of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the police in the implementation of the law when passed and assented to.

Other lawmakers who contributed during plenary include Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, Hon. Rasheed Makinde and Hon. Sanni Okanlawon.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, on Sunday, commiserated with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state over the loss of its officials in different circumstances.

Recall that the party recently lost Dr. Michael Adegbola Dominic, its chairman.

PDP also lost its secretary in Lagos, Prince Muiz Shodipe Dosunmu. Other members and officials who also died include Alhaji Monsuru Ajagbe, its Lagos West vice chairman, Yeye Shola Oladehinbo, its women leader in the state.

The party also lost its LGA Chairmen for Badagry, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Lagos Mainland and Apapa.

Speaker Obasa urged the party to remain strong even though it must have been a painful and solemn period for its members.

While praying for a repose of the souls of the departed, Obasa urged the party at the various levels to take solace in the fact that the departed officials had played their roles for the growth and progress of democracy in the state and the nation.

“As religious people, we understand the place of the Divine God in everything that we do. We believe that God gives and takes. We only pray for His mercies at all times.

“As politicians, we also understand the roles we all play for the progress of our state or the nation. Irrespective of our political differences, we are, first, human beings with blood and water inside us.

“As human beings, the least expected of us is to constantly show compassion, have human feelings and show love to one another.

“It is on these notes that I commiserate with the PDP and its officials both at the national and Lagos State levels over the demise of their colleagues in the state,” Obasa said in a statement from his media office.

The Speaker further urged the party not to abandon all those left behind by the departed as this is the time to show them love.

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is hale and hearty, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have said.

Led by its Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, the lawmakers said they had lengthy discussions with their host.

Photographs taken during the visit showed Tinubu all smiles and excited.

Among the members who visited Tinubu were Hon. Temitope Adewale, chairman of the House committee on Transportation, Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, chairman of the House committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, as well as Hon. Sylvester Ogunkelu, chairman of the House committee on Overseas Investments and SDG.

According to Speaker Obasa, Tinubu was his jovial self and had discussions with the team on issues of national importance.

He added that the visit was necessary considering the position of Asiwaju as a leader in the country, a mentor and benefactor to many Nigerians.

“Asiwaju remains amazingly passionate about Nigeria. He is hale and hearty.

“We had a lengthy discussion about developments in the country; he was in high spirit, cheery, witty as usual and remains optimistic about the progress of the country,” the Speaker said.

• Speaker says Lagos Assembly passing vital laws against drug abuse
• Egunjobi pleads for more efforts in fight against substance abuse

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday decried the increasing rate of drug abuse among youths and even parents in Nigeria.

The Speaker, who spoke at the 7th Annual Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting in his Agege Constituency 1, warned that this menace must be urgently checked to prevent its devastating effects on the growth and progress of the country.

According to Obasa, the Lagos State House of Assembly has been at the forefront of the fight against drug abuse through various legislations.

“At the Lagos State House of Assembly, the leadership and members of the House have always taken matters affecting residents and especially the youths very passionately.

“The House has continued to be proactive in the consideration of viable laws and policies that would enhance youth potentials and development.

“Some of the recent laws that are passed attest to government’s efforts on this matter and these include the law to amend the Lagos State Sports Commission law of 2015 to promote youth and sports development in Lagos and for connected purposes.

“The law will ensure that youths are provided with great opportunities not only in the area of recreation but where they can nurture, explore and utilise their potentials in sporting activities to become professional sportsmen and women.

“This would also take the minds of many of them off drug abuse and criminal activities,” the Speaker said.

Obasa listed other youth-oriented bills considered by the House to include two recent ones for the establishment of a university of education and another for the establishment of a university of science and technology, which aims to address the inadequacies in polytechnic education system in Nigeria.

“While the passage of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps is aimed at ensuring the safety of all in our neighbourhood, the prevalence of drug abuse amongst adults and youths, if not effectively addressed and curbed, will jeopardise the entire efforts of the House in the establishment of a safe, peaceful, and livable society.

“Consequently, we call on all stakeholders, residents, parents, teachers, students, school proprietors, religious organisations, celebrities, social media influencers, professional bodies, the academia, civil society organisations and community leaders to work in concert with the government for the common good of our society by saying ‘no to drug abuse trafficking’,” he said.

In his address at the event, the chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Alhaji Ganiyu Egunjobi, lamented that drug abuse had become so alarming that Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), recommended tests for public office holders, intending couples and admission seekers.

“If we continue in this manner and fail to salvage the situation, in no distant future, there would be an increase in the population of persons with drug abuse-induced health problems,” he warned.

Guests, who spoke at the event, commended the Speaker for the various projects he had attracted to the constituency. They also emphasised the need to effectively curb drug abuse with the clergy promising to carry the campaign to worship centres.

Townhall meeting: Why we must urgently curb drug abuse in Nigeria, Obasa, stakeholders speak

• Speaker says Lagos Assembly passing vital laws against drug abuse
• Egunjobi pleads for more efforts in fight against substance abuse

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday decried the increasing rate of drug abuse among youths and even parents in Nigeria.

The Speaker, who spoke at the 7th Annual Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting in his Agege Constituency 1, warned that this menace must be urgently checked to prevent its devastating effects on the growth and progress of the country.

According to Obasa, the Lagos State House of Assembly has been at the forefront of the fight against drug abuse through various legislations.

“At the Lagos State House of Assembly, the leadership and members of the House have always taken matters affecting residents and especially the youths very passionately.

“The House has continued to be proactive in the consideration of viable laws and policies that would enhance youth potentials and development.

“Some of the recent laws that are passed attest to government’s efforts on this matter and these include the law to amend the Lagos State Sports Commission law of 2015 to promote youth and sports development in Lagos and for connected purposes.

“The law will ensure that youths are provided with great opportunities not only in the area of recreation but where they can nurture, explore and utilise their potentials in sporting activities to become professional sportsmen and women.

“This would also take the minds of many of them off drug abuse and criminal activities,” the Speaker said.

Obasa listed other youth-oriented bills considered by the House to include two recent ones for the establishment of a university of education and another for the establishment of a university of science and technology, which aims to address the inadequacies in polytechnic education system in Nigeria.

“While the passage of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps is aimed at ensuring the safety of all in our neighbourhood, the prevalence of drug abuse amongst adults and youths, if not effectively addressed and curbed, will jeopardise the entire efforts of the House in the establishment of a safe, peaceful, and livable society.

“Consequently, we call on all stakeholders, residents, parents, teachers, students, school proprietors, religious organisations, celebrities, social media influencers, professional bodies, the academia, civil society organisations and community leaders to work in concert with the government for the common good of our society by saying ‘no to drug abuse trafficking’,” he said.

In his address at the event, the chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Alhaji Ganiyu Egunjobi, lamented that drug abuse had become so alarming that Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), recommended tests for public office holders, intending couples and admission seekers.

“If we continue in this manner and fail to salvage the situation, in no distant future, there would be an increase in the population of persons with drug abuse-induced health problems,” he warned.

Guests, who spoke at the event, commended the Speaker for the various projects he had attracted to the constituency. They also emphasised the need to effectively curb drug abuse with the clergy promising to carry the campaign to worship centres.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, has promised that the House would collaborate with any organisation that aims to assist the state with the ease of doing business.

Speaker Obasa made this promise on Wednesday when he received a team from the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) led by Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Post Master-General of the Federation.

“I want to assure you that Lagos is always ready to collaborate with any institution that is willing to work with us for the progress of the state.

“This House of Assembly is ready to work with you. The House is always ready to support with legislations and resolutions to enhance the ease of doing business in the state,” Obasa told the team.

The Speaker expressed optimism that NIPOST will succeed especially with the recent amendment to a law with the result being that the organisation now has the opportunity of a public/private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

“I commend the Senate, particularly the chairman, Committee on Communications, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for the good job done in amending the NIPOST law,” he said while urging the officials to take advantage of amendment to revolutionise the organisation’s mode of operations.

Noting that Nigerians now device various means of getting goods and services to their targets including using commercial bus drivers, the Speaker said he looked forward to that period when people’s interests in NIPOST would be rekindled like it was in the past.

Speaking earlier, Dr. Adewusi, who said he was proud to be associated with Lagos as a result of the successes recorded by state, commended Speaker Obasa and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for playing roles that have assisted the state with its growth and development.

Adewusi, a former commissioner for economic planning in Lagos, however, lamented that internet technology had altered the operational efficiency of the postal services across the world, but added that this had not deterred his team at NIPOST.

“We have started the process of reform which is culminating in the unbundling of the Nigerian Postal Service to now have a property company, a logistics and transport company, and a bank. We have started this process and I believe that by the time I conclude my five-year tenure, we would have succeeded,” he said.

Adewusi explained that by virtue of its assignments, NIPOST is supposed to regulate logistics and courier companies and that this include licensing of motorcycles used for such businesses.

He said his organisation needed the support of the House with legislations that would help ease the task before it especially as it relates to registration of dispatch riders, issuance of identity cards and tracking locations.

He also sought the support and collaboration of the House in the area of training arrangements for motorcyclists and the use of the ‘address verification solution’, an idea of NIPOST aimed at tackling insecurity and crime in the country.

• Gives reason for the creation of Neighbourhood Safety Corps
• Urges taxi operators to device better means to win patronage

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, has promised that the legislative arm of government would continue to work for the progress of the state.

Obasa stated this when he received a delegation from the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) led by its president, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, on Monday.

The Speaker noted that Lagos enjoys an enviable environment for businesses to thrive. He also said the state currently enjoys a great level of security of lives which the government constantly improves upon.

According to him, the legislature had continued to make efforts, through lawmaking and feedback mechanisms, at ensuring that Lagos moves up from being the fifth largest economy in Africa.

Noting that Lagos is a mini-country with representatives from different parts of Nigeria, Obasa, who commended LCCI for its collaboration with the state legislature, said the House had made laws relating to security, transportation and other sectors and that these had helped to boost the state’s economy.

He, however, lamented the refusal of some critical stakeholders to honour invitations to public hearings on bills being considered by the House, only for them to raise complaints when such bills are passed.

“We realised that it is important to have security and protection of everybody because investments can only grow when you have safety. That led to the creation of the Security Trust Fund and the Neighbourhood Safety Corps to ensure we support the Nigeria Police.

“There is also a need for continued collaboration with industries in the state. We will continue to work together for the progress of Lagos,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Mrs. Mabogunje commended the House for the various bills it has passed for the improvement of businesses in the state.

“We appreciate your laudable efforts in this regard and look forward to more bills passed into law to promote enabling environment for the private sector to thrive so that they can generate more revenue for the state,” she urged.

Mabogunje, who noted that the mandate of the chamber is to protect the welfare of its members, appealed for consistency in policy implementation.

“Lagos State needs a multi-modal transport system to solve the traffic congestion on our roads today,” she said among other suggestions while promising more collaboration with the House and the government.

Meanwhile, Speaker Obasa has urged the Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association to device strategies that would make them effectively compete with other organised operators in the state’s transport system.

Obasa said this when some members of the association paid him a visit.

President of the association, Otunba Omolekan Taiwo, had complained that some transport organisations engaging in taxi services had taken over the state.

He lamented that many of the members of his association have been left handicapped especially by the competitors who engage the use of the internet.

He pleaded with the House to assists with laws and resolutions that would favour the association.

In response, Speaker Obasa noted that the transport sector remains an important aspect of the commerce of a state or country.

“Transportation is a big industry that we cannot allow any single body to dominate. You have to create room for others to participate.

“What I want to suggest is that there is need for your organisation to be proactive and bring about new dimensions to your operation,” he told the transport operators.

• Reduce pension of former governors by 50 percent

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday approved the report of its committee on establishment which recommended the reduction of pensions to former governors and other affected officials by 50 percent.

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.

The 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.

He 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 for an upward review of the pension for the affected public office holders by 75 percent, others urged that the pension remain as stipulated in the old law.

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

While recalling the recent murder of the president of Haiti, Obasa said it was necessary to also secure the lives of the former office holders.

“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.

Obasa 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 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.

The Lagos Assembly House Committee on Waterfront Infrastructure Development, on Tuesday, embarked on an inspection of projects being implemented by the State Waterfront Ministry.

Led by Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh, the House Committee on Waterfront visited the projects around the Amuwo-Odofin and Badagry areas of the State.

The lawmakers, who were not happy with the pace of work done so far, threatened to call for sanction against contractors who have collected money from the government to execute projects but failed to deliver on them.

Speaking during the visit, Hon. Jimoh explained that the oversight had helped to reveal some areas that needed further examination.

The Committee expressed its displeasure at a particular Contractor, Cosmos Forum Nigeria Limited, who was reportedly awarded contracts in 2017 including to construct a Jetty with waiting shelter and shoreline protection in Badagry, a Jetty with waiting shelter and shoreline protection in Ilado and two other projects.

The Committee noted that none of the projects had been completed.

The Committee further lamented that the project site situated at Ilado had already been illegally converted to a betting centre by the youths in the area.

According to the Committee, Cosmos Forum Nigeria Limited had been invited on several occasions, but the company had refused to honour the invitation.

“We are not impressed with what we have seen as a lot of contractors are lackadaisical with how they have expended government’s funds and the House of Assembly will not tolerate such.

“Contracts that were awarded since March 2017 have not been completed and these are projects were supposed to be completed within 10 months after they were awarded but the contractors are hiding under the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hon. Jimoh lamented.

He said the House of Assembly would take appropriate steps by sanctioning some of the contractors even if it would result to revoking some of the projects and making them refund a certain percentage of the money they have received from the government.

Hon. Jimoh, however, commended some contractors met at the sites of other waterfront projects saying some of them have done well with the level of implementation so far.

The Chairman was accompanied by a member of the Committee, Hon Rotimi Abiru.

The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, successfully intervened in the disagreement that had taken over the Birch Freeman High School Old Boys Association Lagos.

At the parley, Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, implored the parties involved to look inwards for the continued development of the school.

He also advised the warring parties to withdraw the cases they had in court so they can focus and channel their energy on making the association a force to reckon with.

After a resolution was reached, Hon. Okanlawon asked all parties of the Old Boys Association Exco members to come to the House by the end of October 2021 with documents to prove that they had kept to the resolutions as the courts are currently on recess.