Category: <span>Press Release</span>

Lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly at Tuesday plenary have passed the Lagos State Award Scheme Bill, 2017 into law.

The bill was passed shortly after the Ad Hoc Committee Chairman on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Hon. Sokunle Olusola resumed deliberation on the report of the bill.

The bill which scaled through its second and third reading is meant to serve as a form of motivation to individuals who have served the State meritoriously in different capacities. Its benefits will confer on recipients the privilege of using the award to being qualified for certificates and medals as well as such other privileges.

It would be recalled that the bill at the last plenary during the presentation of report was recommended for amendments for another allotted date in order to ensure proper scrutiny.

Also, the Lagos State Pension Reform (Amendment) Bill 2007 has been passed into law.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa while lending his weight behind the bill, stated that it is apt. He thereafter directed the Clerk Mr. Azeez Sanni to forward clean copies of the bills to the Governor of the State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for his assent.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has resolved to assess the activities of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
This was consequent upon a Motion moved by Hon. Moshood Oshun and others that the LGs and LCDAs be assessed one year after the election of the chairmen and councillors across the local governments.
Oshun stated that the local governments are regarded as the extension of the state in the area of development as they are given allocation both by the Federal Government and the state government.
He stated that it was important to assess the local governments and local council development areas to see if they conform to the Administrative Guideline of 2011.
The lawmaker submitted that it was important to mandate the appropriate committee of the House to evaluate the activities of the local governments.
“The local governments are expected to assist in the development of the state. It is important to evaluate how they have impacted on the state and for the committee of the House to assess them,” he said.
The Motion was seconded by Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu.
In his comment, Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi said that it was important for the Assembly to carry out the exercise as they would be seeking votes from the people very soon and that the local governments are closer to the people.
Also, Hon. Rotimi Olowo stated that the local governments are the babies of the House and that the House must inspect how they have been spending the money being allocated to them.
According to him, the House must look at the capital and recurrent expenditures of the local councils and see if they are in tandem with the administrative guidelines.
Hon. Rasheed Makinde also supported the motion, while Hon. Segun Olulade suggested that the committee should do an on-the-spot assessment of the activities of the local governments.
In his view, Hon. Dayo Saka-Fafunmi considered the Motion as timely, adding that while some local government chairmen have been working, some others have not been performing their duties effectively.
He said that if the local governments fail, then all eyes would be on the state government.
Also contributing, Hon. Abiodun Tobun said that the House should look at the level of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the councils and that the House should look at the projects of the councils rather than the programmes of the various councils.
This, he said would provide justification for the creation of the local governments.
Hon. Victor Akande, in his contribution, said that the committee should visit the local governments for assessment as earlier suggested.
The Speaker of the House, Rt.Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said in his speech that it was important for the House to audit the local governments and LCDAs to ensure that they do their jobs.
“The local governments were established for grassroots development. This is a very good period for the assessment of the local governments as they collect their allocation regularly.
“We need to encourage those that are doing well and charge those that are not doing well to do more.
“We should look at the parliament at the local government if they are being supported by the councils and see how we can help them,” he said.
Obasa then announced members of the committee that would assess the local governments.
The committee is to be Chaired by Hon. Rotimi Olowo, and members include Hon. Fatai Mojeed, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi, Hon. Rasheed Makinde, and Hon. Akeem Shokunle.
The rest are Hon. Mojisola Miranda, Hon. Setonji David, Hon. Dayo Saka-Fafunmi, and Hon. Victor Akande and the committee is to report back to the House in three weeks.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the state to restrict movement of long vehicles to between 9pm and early hours of the day.

Moving a motion on the matter with reference to the petrol tanker accident that claimed lives and property along Otedola Estate in Berger area on Thursday 28th June, 2018, the Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade called for a review of issues surrounding movement of trailers in the state.

The Motion was moved by 14 members of the House.

The House urged the Governor to direct the State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Dipo Lawanson to ensure that long vehicles do not ply the roads in the state until 9pm.

“The House observed that the fire incident around Otedola Estate on Thursday 28, June led to avoidable deaths of several people and destroyed many properties.

“We noticed that the incident was caused by recklessness on the part of the driver, overspeeding, drinking of alcohol amongst others. It is also observed that many of the drivers do not have drivers license and many of the vehicles are not road worthy,” he said.

While commending the Lagos State Government for the rapid response to the incident, the movers of the motion urged the state government to sanction any long vehicle owner that does not obtain necessary papers and ensure road worthiness of their vehicles.

Agunbiade stated that it was worrisome that long vehicles are parked on Ikorodu Road indiscriminately considering the consequences.

The House used the opportunity to call on the state’s Governor to direct the Commissioner for Transportion to provide regulations for the types of vehicles that would ply Lagos roads based on their year of purchase.

Agunbiade added that the state government should direct all owners of long vehicles to go for insurance policies, provide places to park the vehicles and ensure that they follow the regulations of the state government.

“We also want to call on Governor Ambode to direct the Chief Justice of the state, Justice Olufunmilayo Oke to set up mobile courts to handle cases involving long vehicles.

“The House calls on the Minister of Power, Works and Housing to repair the roads in the state and provide weigh bridges for the vehicles,” he said.

The Motion was, however, supported by Hon. Abiodun Tobun.

Contributing to the matter, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa suggested that the state Commissioner for Transport should meet with the insurance companies so that the policies would be done properly.

“The state government should have a discussion with the insurance companies so that the policies would be original and not fake.

“Our traffic law should be reviewed to reduce loss of lives on our roads. If the Otedola Estate incident had happened at night, the casualty would have been minimal,” he stated.

Also speaking on the matter, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu said that the state government should call on the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edgal Imohinmi to be up and doing to ensure that the vehicle owners obtain insurance policies.

He said that the policies should be regulated by the police so that the efforts of the government would not be wasted.

The motion was also supported by Hon. Bisi Yusuf, who said that a similar incident was averted in Alimosho Area on Wednesday, adding that the matter should be taken seriously.

The Speaker of the House subsequently directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to write to the government on the matter.

Meanwhile, the House has set up a committee to review the mid-year expenditure of the Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.

The Committee is to be headed by Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, while members include Hon. Abiodun Tobun, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, Hon. Jude Idimogu, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, Hon. Moshood Oshun, Hon. Nurudeen Saka-Solaja and Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho.

The committee was directed to submit its report within two weeks and a half.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advocated for strong and autonomous states as a panacea for eradicating poverty in the country.

Osinbajo stated this, while delivering a lecture at the special parliamentary session in commemoration of the 3rd Anniversary of the 8th Assembly of Lagos State which took place at the chamber of the Lagos state House of Assembly Alausa on Friday June 29th.

Although the topic for the lecture was ‘Strengthening Legislative Institutions: Panacea For Enduring Democracy,” the Vice President narrowed the topic down to ‘Stronger State and The Eradication of Poverty.”

As against the general belief that the creation of a conducive environment by the government for business to thrive would checkmate mass poverty, Osinbajo said that poverty could be eradicated by having strong states with strong judiciary, executive and legislature, which would channel the resources of the state to create wealth for the citizens and eradicate poverty.

“The three arms of government in the states must work proactively for the economic development of its citizens. To achieve this, there must be devolution of powers to the states to enable them control their resources,” Osinbajo said.

He cited the great feat achieved by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, saying that as Premier of the then Western region Awolowo recorded achievements that were acknowledged worldwide and most of which has remained enduring as the government then relied solely on revenue from taxes and cocoa.

Osinbajo submitted that although he supports devolution of power and restructuring, but that even without restructuring it is possible to create strong states without any major constitutional changes.

He recalled how collaboration between the the three arms of government in Lagos right from the reign of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the present governor the state has been able to win series of cases at the Supreme Court, which has given more powers to not just only Lagos State, but which has benefited so many other states.

According to him, the Lagos State House of Assembly has pushed the frontiers of federalism by passing laws, which have strengthened federalism in Nigeria.

He advised that for outstanding economic growth there is need to focus more on education, healthcare and provision of jobs through delibrate programmes and pumping of more resources to these sectors to benefit the majority of the citizens.

The Vice President disclosed that the present government is working round the clock to create an environment for business to grow, especially a micro credit scheme for those at the lower rung of the economic ladder to lift them out of poverty.

He commended the Lagos State Government for creating exemplary institutions for economic growth and development.

Osinbajo also made a case for state police to tackle the present security challenges confronting the nation, saying that “local policing is very important as part of security architecture”.

In his remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode praised the leadership of the state Assembly for team dynamics and infrastructural development within the Assembly.

According to him, the three arms of government in the state have always worked together and have strived to show a good example of the tenents of democracy and what growth and development should be “and with that collaboration we will take Lagos to where it is suppose to be.”

In his welcome address earlier, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said in that three years the Assembly has passed 28 bills into law and over 100 resolutions covering important areas such as education, health, power, transport, security and environment and others for the well-being of the people.

Obasa commended Ambode for “the good job he is doing, which is visible all over the state. He has turned the whole state to one construction site.”

While stressing on the important role of the Assembly in democracy, Obasa said that the executive should ensure the survival of the legislature by playing the role of a father and ensuring cordial relationship to avoid instability and anarchy.

Dignitaries at the event include House of Representatives Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, APC National Legal Adviser, Hon. Babatunde Ogala, APC South West Women Leader, Mrs. Kami Nelson, Rights Activist, Femi Falana, Secretary to the State government, Tunji Bello and other exco members, Body of Permanent Secretaries, Lagos APC chairman, Hon. Tunde Balogun, Lagos APC Woman Leader, Hon. Jumoke Okoya Thomas traditional rulers amongst several others.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has condoled with the families of victims who lost their lives in the tanker accident which occured at the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday.

The Lagos Assembly Speaker while describing the incident as a sad development, prayed to God to give the victims’ families the fortitude to hear the loss.

“It is a sad development and I share the feeling of those who lost their loved ones in this incident. I pray to God to give the victims’ families the fortitude to bear the loss,” the Lagos Assembly Speaker said in his condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak.

The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be the Guest Speaker at the 3rd Anniversary of the 8th Legislative Assembly of the Lagos State Parliament on Friday, 29 June, 2018.

The Vice President will be speaking on the topic: Strengthening Democratic Institutions: Panacea For Enduring Democracy at the programme which starts at 2pm inside the legislative chamber of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Mr Musbau Rasak, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’aba will be the main discussant of the theme after the VP’s presentation.

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead important personalities to the event among whom are: the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode; his counterpart from the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; and the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

The annual anniversary lecture has become one of the flagship programmes of the 8th Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. It has become a look forward to annual programme because of the intellectual and academic discourse which is usually anchored on providing panacea for strengthening democracy and rule of law in Nigeria.

According to Rt. Hon. Obasa, “This year’s programme will not be an exception. The Vice President, an erudite scholar and SAN, who believes in strengthening democracy and the Rule of Law will lecture us all on this important topic”.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has called on Nigerians, particularly Muslims not to relent in sharing love among themselves despite the end of the Ramadan fasting.

The Speaker also advised Nigerians to continue to maintain peace and avoid utterances and actions that can cause disharmony among themselves.

The Lagos Speaker’s advice was contained in his Eid-l-Fitri message released on Thursday signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak.

“Ramadan is the period we share love, move closer to God and all try to maintain cordial relationship. As we are celebrating the Eid-l-Fitri in commemoration of the end of the fasting period, we should not abandon all the qualities and virtues we have imbibed during the period,” Rt. Hon. Obasa said.

According to him, the Ramadan period served as a moment of sober reflection, “the period we collectively decided to abandon vices and embrace virtues. The vital lesson for us therefore is for us to maintain those virtues which are ingredients of a just society.

“We should continue to be our brother’s keeper, share love among ourselves, continue the act of giving imbibe during the fasting period and avoid utterances and actions that can cause disaffection and disharmony among ourselves”.

The Lagos Assembly Speaker advised Nigerians particularly Muslims to celebrate in atmosphere devoid of hatred, violence and chaos. “On behalf of my colleagues in the Lagos State House of Assembly, I wish you a happy Eid-l-Fitri celebration,” he said.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has hailed the declaration of June 12 as the new Democracy Day for Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Rt. Hon. Obasa, who gave the commendation through a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, also praised Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his pioneering efforts at making the declaration a reality. Tinubu was the first Governor to declare June 12 as a public holiday for workers which was observed throughout his eight year tenure.

“This declaration has vindicated the belief and agitation of the Progressives that June 12 should be the authentic Democracy Day because it was the day that Nigeria had the freest, fairest and most peaceful election in the country.

“It was June 12 that gave birth to what we are enjoying today as democracy but for 16 years, the People Democratic Party (PDP) government at the centre failed to recognise this epoch making event. Thank God, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has right the wrong and I want to congratulate the President, his Vice, the APC and Nigerians in general for this honour on the martyr of Nigerian democracy, Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola,” the Lagos Assembly Speaker said.

Rt. Hon. Obasa also has special praise for APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves special praise for his commitment to rule of law and justice, moreso his belief in the sanctity of the June 12 mandate and the entire struggle for democracy which culminated in the present democratic dispensation.

“Asiwaju was the first Governor to declare June 12 as Democracy Day and throughout his tenure as governor, workers in Lagos State enjoyed the day as work free day. Asiwaju also named the former Marwa Gardens after the late Chief MKO Abiola to immortalise him.

“And don’t forget that it was Asiwaju that named the press centre at Alausa secretariat after the late Bagauda Kaltho, the News magazine correspondent killed by the Abacha junta during the struggle for democracy.

“Therefore our leader also deserves special commendation for his pioneering efforts at getting official recognition for June 12, Chief MKO Abiola and other icons of democratic struggle in the country,” Rt. Hon Obasa said.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has condoled with the staff and management of the Punch newspaper over the death of its Chairman, Wale Aboderin, saying that the Nigerian nation will miss the versatility of the man who died at the age of 60.

In his condolence message released on Friday and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, the Lagos Assembly Speaker also condoled with the Aboderin family of Ibadan over the death of their son.

“He was such a versatile man. Apart from being the Chairman of one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers, the Punch; he was not also a basketballer he also owned a basketball team, Dolphins, which have represented the country in many international competitions; while he also owned a musical band, the Rapture,” he said.

The Lagos Assembly Speaker noted further that during his time as the Chairman of Punch newspaper, he has improved the standard of the paper while the Dolphins Basketball Club he founded, funded and presided over won many national and international competitions.

“Indeed, Nigeria will miss his resourcefulness and versatility which had contributed in no small measures to nation building,” Rt. Hon Obasa said.

“On behalf of my colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, I condole with the Aboderin family of Ibadan and the management and staff of the Punch newspaper on the loss of this illustrious Nigerian,” Rt. Hon. Obasa said

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has assured Nigerians that the government at all levels is committed to improving their welfare and standard of living.

The Lagos Assembly Speaker, in his Democracy Day message to Nigerians signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, also commended Nigerians for their courage and perseverance but assuring that the people will soon start to enjoy the dividends of the government’s socio-economic reforms.

“This is the third anniversary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration at the centre and I want to commend our people for their support and prayers not only for the government at the centre but also for the state and local governments.

“Yes, things have not been rosy, hence the need for me to commend your courage and perseverance. Our people have been so wonderful for their support and prayers.

“However, I want to assure you that very soon you will start to reap the dividends of the socio-economic reforms of the government.

“At the state level, there’s is no doubt that Lagosians are enjoying positive dividends of democracy with massive infrastructure and human development programmes anchored on people-oriented policies backed by rightly-guided legislation.

“For all we have achieved in the state and still going to achieve, the people’s suport, prayers and cooperation are the backbone. Therefore, we give kudos to Nigerians and Lagosians in particular for their support, prayers and cooperation for the APC administration at all levels and like Oliver Twist, we urge you not to relent in this as we all march forward to make Nigeria great.

“On behalf of my colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, I wish you all a happy Democracy Day celebration,” the Lagos Assembly Speaker said.