Lagos Assembly Summons Three Commissioners Over Mounting Refuse

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday summoned three Commissioners, their respective Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the to brief the House on all issues surrounding the handing over of the State environmental matters to Visionscape that has led to mounting refuse in the state.
The summoned Commissioners are the state’s Chief Justice and Attorney-General, Adeniji Kazeem, Finance, Akinyemi Ashade, the Environment, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti and the Accountant-General, Abimbola Umar.
The House also directed the Commissioner for Finance and Accountant-General of the State to henceforth stop further payment to Visionscape pending the outcome of its investigation.
In addition, the House has constituted an eight-man Ad-Hoc Committee to which the Commissioners and Accountant-General are to report.
The Committee which is headed by Hon. Bayo Oshinowo has other members as Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu, Hon. Funmilayo Tejuoso, Hon. Abiodun Tobun, Hon. Saka Fafunmi, Hon. Moshood Oshun, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu and Hon. Rasheed Makinde.
The followed a motion moved Under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, by Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, who disclosed that refuse has taken over Lagos, noting that there is a need to avert serious epidemic in the state.
“It is known by everybody that refuse is now taking over the streets of Lagos. I observed that there is need to address the menace. It is an eyesore that brings shame to the State,” Ogunyemi noted.
The lawmaker recalled that the State witnessed serious flooding in previous years due to drainage blockage, saying that the current refuse in the sate posed more danger.
He argued further that the Company in charge in the collection and disposal of the waste, Visionscape has failed to meet up with the vision provided in the new law passed to tackle issues around refuse in the state.
The Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa who presided over the plenary 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.
Obasa reiterated that 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.
In his comment, Hon Bisi Yusuff said that “My colleagues, we need to unravel those behind Visionscape. The issue of inappropriate management of waste will have adverse effects on our health especially as it relates to Lassa fever. Waste will result in more rats.
Another lawmaker, Hon. Raheem Adams opined that the House should critically examine the issue to determine if there is need to give back the management of the waste to PSP operators.
Abiodun Tobun stated, “the handing over of waste management in the State is retrogressive. We must be at alert and do what is expected of us as representatives of the people.”
While also condemning the reoccurrence of refuse on highways, the Majority Leader, Hon Sanai Agunbiade who suggested setting up of an Ad-Hoc committee, pointed out that there was need to look at the activities of saboteurs.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh revealed that there were comments on social media condemning the amount of money Visionscape was being paid by the state government, adding that such money was not appropriated in the budget.
While reiterating on the funding of Visionscape, the Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu wondered why the State Government was funding Visionscape despite the resolution of the House in the 2018 budget that the fund should be domiciled in consolidated revenue in the ministry of budget.