Lagos Assembly Urges Government Support for Schoolgirl Suffering Teargas Injury
The Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the government to support Amina Alege, a 12-year-old student of the Adam Yakubu Memorial High School in Lagos State, who suffered an eye injury after she was allegedly tear-gassed by the police.
The incident occurred on Friday, February 9, 2024, in front of a mosque near Adam Yakubu Memorial High School in Iloro, Cement, Agege, Lagos.
The House called on the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, and the ministry to offer necessary support to the young girl, who is billed for surgery.
The matter was brought to the attention of the House by Hon. Abiodun Orekoya, chairman of the House Committee on Sports and Youth Development during a plenary session on Thursday presided over by Deputy Speaker Mojisola Lasbat Meranda on behalf of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
Orekoya said he received the information through a human rights organisation, adding that the incident happened when two schools were embroiled in a clash and the police intervened with tear-gas.
He said the student’s parents have been borrowing money to pay for her treatment and that she is currently admitted to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
Orekoya pleaded with the House to call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to offer support to the parents and help save Amina’s life before the situation worsens.
Supporting Orekoya’s appeal, Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 2) emphasised that since the student attends a government-owned school, it was necessary for the governor to step in.
Joseph further requested that the House investigate the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Deputy Speaker Meranda directed the Chairman of the House Committee on Education (Secondary) to summon the management of both schools involved in the clash and investigate what led to the clash.
They are expected to report back within one week.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Lagos Assembly Suggests Ways To Strengthen Naira Against Dollar
The Lagos State House of Assembly has decried the continued downward slide in the value of the naira against the dollar.
As at Tuesday, a dollar hovered between N1,474 and N1,500 and the lawmakers, at plenary, advised the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on some bold steps to take so as to shore up the value of the naira.
Part of the resolutions by the House was that the federal government should come up with a mechanism to reduce foreign trips for seminars and conferences by ministries and agencies adding that this should apply to states.
While stressing the need to strengthen security across the nation, the House also called on the CBN “to embark on sensitisation of Nigerians on the steps being taken by the apex bank to reduce the pressure on naira while informing on the expected roles of Nigerians at this time.”
The Assembly urged that depositors of dollars in banks can be engaged for an acceptable arrangement where such funds can be utilised by the government to help reduce pressure on the naira.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the sitting, lamented the disparity between the dollar and naira while commending the CBN for taking some measures with the hope that such actions would yield positive results.
Dr. Obasa, who further commended the National Assembly for inviting the CBN governor for discussion recently, said: “In my opinion, the CBN and government should embark on sensitisation and information dissemination to make people understand what the government is doing.
The pressure on the naira is too much, but the CBN should make sure that national interest is supreme.”
Obasa urged the government to regulate religious pilgrimages as they attract undue interest in dollars and put pressure on the naira. According to him, this action could be sustained until the naira stabilises.
“To save the naira, the federal government and states can stop foreign conferences and seminars. If possible, we can bring the resource persons to Nigeria to deliver their lectures.
We all need to look inward to support the government.
“Locally, some people in Nigeria doing businesses demand dollars instead of naira. Even at parties now, you see people spray dollars instead of naira. We need a way out and to do this, we need the support of citizens. That’s the essence of sensitisation.
Speaking earlier under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, Hon. Femi Saheed (Kosofe Constituency 2), said the current naira-dollar disparity is the direct consequence of the policies of the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN.
According to him, the naira will gain strength if measures including fixing the nation’s refineries, strengthening the education and health sectors are taken.
“I think the current CBN governor should work on moral suasion to get people to pull out the dollars in their domiciliary account,” he said.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Sustain Late Wigwe’s Legacies, Lagos Assembly Tells Late Banker’s Colleagues
– House observes a minute silence
The Lagos State House of Assembly resumed plenary on Monday with a call on colleagues of late banker, Herbert Wigwe, to sustain his legacies.
Wigwe, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, lost his life in a helicopter crash in the United States of America. He was with his wife, Doreen, son and Abimbola Ogunbajo, a former chairman of Nigeria Exchange Group.
Speaking under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, described Wigwe’s demise as “shocking, painful, disturbing and unexpected.”
Dr. Obasa recalled his last encounter with the late Wigwe on their way back to Lagos from Abuja describing the deceased as one who was passionate about Nigeria’s development.
“The demise of Wigwe is painful because this is someone who struggled to establish himself in terms of professionalism, his contributions and activities in the banking industry and even his personal life.
“There is no doubt that he was a philanthropist, at least we know of the Lagos City Marathon which he had supported for many years.
“My last encounter with him was on my way from Abuja to Lagos in his aircraft. Within the one-hour flight, we had a lot of discussions,” the Speaker said recalling how Wigwe spoke concerning the economy, the nation and its polity.
“All we can do now is mourn and accept what happened as what fate has brought upon us. He did not die alone. His wife, son and friend were with him.
“The lesson from this is that even though none of us wants to die, we must put the best of us in our relationships with others and contribute our best to our society and nation as these are what people will remember after us.
“I want to urge his colleagues to sustain his legacies, his philanthropic activities part of which is the Lagos City Marathon which has been expanded beyond the shores of Nigeria as well as the Wigwe University which, I am sure, was for the benefit of Nigerians,” the Speaker added as he prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed.
In their contributions, some of the lawmakers described the late Wigwe as a man who was humble despite his financial strength.
“Though very wealthy, he brought himself to understanding people. He was a friend of this state for many years. He despised domestic violence and spoke against it vehemently,” Hon. Desmond Olusola Elliot said.
Hon. Abiodun Tobun also described the late banker as easy-going and unassuming.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The House also commended itself for passing laws that have favoured the female gender in the State just as they appreciated the State Government for doing its best to protect the girl child.
At a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and in commemoration of the 2022 International Girl Child Day, the lawmakers also appreciated the various non-governmental organisations championing the cause of the girl child, carrying out advocacy and ensuring their protection.
Dr. Obasa, while commending Hon. Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, prime mover of the motion, noted: “The International Day for the Girl Child is an opportunity to bring to the fore the challenges facing the girl child such as violation of babies by men, abuse of drugs, and cultism.
“It is also an opportunity to scrutunise the performance of government agencies saddled with the responsibility of protecting the girl child,” the Speaker said.
Dr. Obasa commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his efforts at ensuring that the girl child in Lagos has equal opportunities as the male gender.
Moving the motion earlier, Hon. Alli-Macaulay, who chairs the House Committee on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, noted that the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) had set aside October 11, every year to celebrate the girl child and recognise her rights and the unique challenges she faces around the world.
She added that this year’s theme ‘Our Time is Now – Our Rights, Our Future’ is aimed at girls across the world who are demanding recognition of their power, inclusiveness and sustainable pathways to political participation.
Hon. Alli-Macaulay argued that “girls all over the world have shown interest in politics, education, poverty-related issues, environment, climate change amongst others.”
She noted the enactment of the Child Right Law and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law by the House of Assembly as part of its efforts to keep the girl child protected.
In a related development, the ‘Bill for a Law to Amend the Office Of The Public Defender Law, 2015’ was read for a second with the lawmakers describing it as important.
Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, noted that the amendment is to introduce new sections that would help to strengthen the extant law.
Thereafter, Speaker Obasa commited the bill to House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC chaired by Hon. Victor Akande.
The committee is expected to report back to the House in two weeks.
Lagos Assembly Scrap Houses for Rx-Governors, Others in Pension Reform Law
The Lagos State House of Assembly (Lagos 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 Lagos Assembly is 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 of the Lagos Assembly had supported the report of the committee saying it would have a positive impact on the internally generated revenue of the state.
Lagos Assembly Backs Southern Governors On Rotational Presidency, Others
Lagos Assembly
Members of the Lagos Assembly on Thursday declared their support for the resolutions reached by the southern governors at a recent meeting held in Lagos.
The governors had demanded that the south produces the next president of the country while also declaring that they should be informed of any operation likely to be carried out in their states by security and law enforcement agencies.
While supporting the unity of the country, the governors condemned what they called selective administration of the criminal justice. Among other demands, they called for the establishment of state police.
In a motion moved by Hon. Akeem Shokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1) of the Lagos Assembly under ‘Matter of Urgent Public importance’, the lawmakers agreed to commend the governors for the efforts they have made so far for the progress of the country.
The Lagos Assembly is also called on Speakers and lawmakers of the concerned States in the southern part of the country to support the demands of the governors.
Concluding the debate on the matter, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said: “We need to commend the southern governors for their efforts to resolve issues troubling our unity. This is the second time they are meeting. Every point in their communique is important.”
Obasa said the governors are supposed to be the chief security officers, yet they are rendered powerless in relation to security of their states.
The Speaker said that it was important that the resolutions of the governors on rotational presidency, state police, ban on open grazing, sharing of resources to the states and others should be accepted by the Federal Government.
Earlier, lawmakers who contributed to the debate, commended the unity among the southern governors urging them not to relent.
The Speaker later directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to inform the Chairman of Southern Governors Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly about the position of the House.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers on Monday held a minute silence in honour of Sumbo Ajose, treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State who reportedly died on Tuesday.
Speaker Obasa, while commiserating with the family of the deceased and the party, said the late Ajose was a loyal party member adding that her death remained a huge loss to the APC.
The Speaker also used the opportunity to advise his colleagues to live their lives ensuring they serve well in whatever capacities they find themselves.
Breaking: Lagos Assembly passes bill stopping parade of suspects
The Lagos Assembly on Monday passed an amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of the state barring the police from henceforth parading suspects before the media.
The bill was passed at a sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa.
Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states: “As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”
The bill further stipulates conditions under which a policeman can arrest without warrant one of which is that a person must be reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or other such dangerous instruments.
A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person in a criminal matter.”
The bill adds that a person who is arrested “shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defence or release.
The bill stipulates that a suspect should be “accorded humane treatment, with the right to dignity of person; not be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; be brought before the court as prescribed by this law or any other written law; or be released conditionally or unconditionally.”
After a voice vote, the Lagos Assembly Deputy Speaker directed the acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to the governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for assent.
The Lagos Assembly on Thursday debated two bills proposing the establishment of two tertiary institutions – a University of Education and a University of Science and Technology – in the state.
The bills, which scaled second reading on the floor of the Lagos Assembly presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, were committed to the House Committee on Education (Tertiary) to report back in two weeks.
Hon. Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1) argued that the bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the university of Education, Lagos (UNEDLAG) was important as he suggested that it should also have provision for pre-degree programmes.
Yusuff also noted a provision in the bill that would make graduates be somewhat independent rather than search for jobs.
“The inclusion of vocational training will also make the students to be self-employed,” he said.
On his part, Hon. Sani Okanlawon, said it had become important for the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and the Michael Otedola College of Education to be upgraded to a university.
“The society now rejects NCE and what is the benefit of going to a school that your certificate will not be recognised?
“Admission into this school is the lowest as only 18 applicants chose (ACCOED) as first choice in the last Universal Tertiary Matriculations Examinations (UTME).
“With the creation of this varsity, it will reduce the number of applicants seeking admission to LASU,” he said.
Also contributing, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2), who agreed with his colleagues on the need to upgrade the two colleges of education in the state to a university, said the NCE is no longer popular.
According to him, the establishment of the university is timely, but “there is need to have a template to form the institution in order to avoid overlap.”
Hon. David Setonji, chairman of the House committee on Information, supported the bill and added that the state had a high number of primary and secondary schools with less teachers and that the university would help resolve the challenge.
The Leader of the Lagos Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1), who said he was excited about the planned upgrade, told his colleagues that he is a product of ACCOED and that he taught for five years with the certificate he got from the institution.
“The creation of a new varsity is a good thing. This bill takes care of the welfare of both lecturers and students,” he added.
Speaking about the bill, Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe 2) said he was optimistic the proposed University of Education would produce good teachers if passed into law.
Concerning the proposed University of Science and Technology, the lawmakers expressed optimism that it would help provide manpower for the development of the state and the country.
In his contributions, Hon. Rauf Age-Sulaimon (Amuwo Odofin 2) suggested that courses in the humanities and legal studies should not be included in the institution’s curriculum as a University of Science and Technology.
While Hon. Femi Saheed (Kosofe 2) said science and technology play vital roles in development, Hon. Bisi Yusuff urged that the studies to be offered should take into cognisance the culture of the people.
Yusuff also advised that the university should be made to go into researches on agriculture to reduce the high cost of food in the state and the country.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The Lagos State House of Assembly and the Speaker of the House Dr. Obasa on Monday ordered Local Government councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to desist from extorting and harrassing operators of courier and logistics services in the state.
This was as the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, emphasised that local government councils and LCDAs do not have the power to tax logistics and courier services. He said the power of the councils was limited to registration of bicycles as dictated by the constitution of the country.
Obasa said it was lamentable, especially as such acts affect ease of doing business “and it is very important that we do something about it.
“We have to make them understand that going out to disturb well-planned and organised businesses that stand to create employment for our youth especially with the rate at which students graduate with nothing much to do is not good at all.
“The services of courier services reduce poverty in the state and how much do they even charge?” Obasa asked.
“Local governments have nothing to do with the registration of motorcycles and tricycles. Operators of courier and logistics services should not be made to pay in all the local governments considering what they charge for their services” Obasa explained.
The Speaker Dr. Mudashiru Obasa reel out The House resolution that the local government councils should be aware of their limitations in this regard as well as stop using alleged touts and street urchins to collect revenues in other areas where they are legally empowered.
In the decision of the House which followed a motion earlier moved by Hon. Ganiu Sanni Okanlawon (Kosofe 1), the lawmakers further resolved to call on the Lagos State Government to direct the Commissioner for Transportation and other relevant agencies to ensure that operators of courier services and logistics are not harrassed by the local governments.
The House also directed the state Commissioner of Police to ensure that all extortionists in the state are apprehended.
“The House calls on Local Governments and LCDAs to desist from harrasing and extorting operators of courier and logistics services and restrain their traffic department from doing so.
“The Ministry of Information and Strategy should educate operators of Courier and Logistics Services and informed them about what is expected of them,” Okanlawon said.
Okanlawon stated that the laws and restriction orders on the ban of motorcycles in some areas in the state exempted the movement of motorcycles of courier and logistics services.
In his contribution, Hon. Bisi Yusuff said that the motion was timely and that the use of local government taskforce to deal with operators of courier services was an embarrassment to the state government.
According to Yusuff, some operators took some local governments to the court on the issue in the past and won.
Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, said that courier and logistics services help people in different areas to interact with their customers.
Agunbiade added that the operation had a way of boosting the economy of the state and empowering the people through employment.
“The motion did not say they should not be regulated. A courier service should not pay from one local government to the other or else it would defeat the purpose of their business.
“The revenue should be centralised among the local governments. The House once passed a law to regulate collection of fees by local governments. The law stated that whoever is collecting levies for the local governments must be identified,” he suggested.
Hon. Lukman Olumoh (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1) accused some of the local government officials of issuing out fake documents. He suggested that consultants should be employed for such activities.
Hon. Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju Lekki 1) stated that some of the riders of the bikes are graduates who have no other jobs, and that there have been many cries concerning the harrasment of courier and logistics operators by local government officials.
On his part, Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1) lamented that some of the courier services organisations do not live up to expectations.
“Some local governments use consultants and we cannot stop them because of their excesses. We must not throw the local governments out totally as they have a role to play as an arm of government,” he said.
Also speaking, Hon. Lanre Afinni (Lagos Island 2) suggested that the collection of revenue for the local governments could be centralised and shared among them, adding that multiple taxation affects the profit of courier services companies.
In his view, Hon. Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 2) said that most of the local governments and LCDAs have traffic sections and that they charge exorbitant fines.
He urged that the traffic sections of these councils be looked into because they sometimes go the extreme of arresting and harrassing people.
Hon. Jude Idimogu (Oshodi/Isolo 2), who said he had personally experienced the harrasment of the touts, supported the motion.
Also supporting the motion, Hon. Setonji David (Badagry 2) said that courier operators play major roles in the state but that the local governments do not see it from this angle.
“Most of the receipts issued by the local governments are fake. We must ensure that the local governments limit themselves to what they ought to do.
“We have to find a way to stop the local governments from bothering the courier services since they are recognised by law. They also help transportation in the state as they help in distributing items,” he said.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday read for a second time a bill that seeks to repeal the law which grants pension and other emoluments to governors and deputies after leaving office.
The new bill which was debated on the floor of the House at a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, is titled ‘A Bill for a law to repeal the law to provide for the payment of pensions and other fringe benefits to public office holders in Lagos State and for other connected matters’.
The lawmakers argued that it would not be too good to repeal the law in its entirety as there were some important sections and stipulations that should be considered.
Speaking concerning the bill, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu (Agege 2), explained that the bill is to ensure the stoppage of pensions to governors and deputies when they leave office adding that this decision was in consideration of the country’s current economic challenges.
Ogundimu argued that the governors and their deputies and other such political office holders should be made to enjoy some benefits no matter how little.
He also argued that the bill should be amended in such a way that it would not throw former political officers to security challenges since if the original law is repealed, it would mean withdrawing all security agents and domestic staff earlier attached to them.
On his part, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2), noted that the parliament has the power to make and review laws, especially where it includes one like the pension bill that was passed 14 years ago and needs to be looked at again.
He said the objective of the bill as raised by the executive is to ensure that the state begins to look inward in relation to cost of governance.
He added that by virtue of his position as chairman of the committee on economic planning and budget, he has had the opportunity to check the finances of the state and would say Lagos is not very rich, but only has people who effectively manage its resources.
He also agreed that the security of the lives of such political office holders when they leave office should be considered urging that the bill be committed to a committee.
Contributing, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2), said he supports an amendment to the law instead of a repeal.
“For a person who has served as chief executive of a state, I do not think it is nice denying them of their benefits.
“I can appreciate that some of them move to other appointments. For these people, there can be a caveat. But for those who serve in that capacity and do not have any other thing to do after office, it may not be something elaborate, but something may be coming to them periodically,” he said.
Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe 1) said he does not subscribe to a total repeal of the law because it would give room to corruption in office.
He said provisions should be made available to governors, deputies and possibly speakers after they leave office.
Other lawmakers who supported amendment to the law include Hon. Jude Idimogu )Oshodi-Isolo 2), Hon. Saad Olumo (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1) and Hon. Abdulsobur Olawale (Mushin 2).
While rounding off the debate, Speaker Obasa observed the questions and suggestions raised by the lawmakers.
He also supported arguments that repealing the law in totality would expose former governors and deputies to security challenges.
“I don’t think we should trash it in totality,” he said as he committed the bill to the House Committee on Establishment with a two-week mandate for a reported to be submitted.
Eromosele Ebhomele Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly.
