Obasa: Lagos Speaker

Eromosele Ebhomele

The law establishing local government administration in Lagos state, western Nigeria is being amended by the state House of Assembly to, among other things, extend the tenure of office of council chairmen from three years to four years.

The proposed amendments sponsored by the Speaker Mudashiru Obasa affect sections 27 (1), 24 (a) and an inclusion of 12 (1) to the original law.

In the motion, which was moved on the floor of the House during plenary, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government, Kazeem Alimi, explained that the tenure of office of council chairmen and councillors would be adjusted to be in line with other representatives at the state level.

Currently, other elective offices have a tenure of four years and the House thinks it is just right for the council chairmen to also enjoy such extension.

Alimi said the proposed amendment would also give the state Assembly the power to remove or suspend any erring council chairman once a petition is received against him from the concerned councillors and he is found wanting.

The lawmaker disclosed that the law would make categorical statement that any chairman who has served for two terms would not be eligible to contest any election as the head of a local government.

In his contribution, the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, maintained that the Nigerian constitution gives state Houses of Assembly power to create local government councils.

He added that for such creation to be effective the House should have the power to sanction any chairman if he is found wanting.

While stressing the need for the amendment, Bisi Yusuff commended the courage of the Speaker for coming up with what he called a new bill.

According to him, “previous efforts aimed at amending the law proved abortive.”

Another lawmaker, Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, stated that “after the creation of councils, it is important for us to monitor the activities of the council bosses.

“Failure to carry out proper investigation and pass resolution that must be obeyed, will be counter-productive.”

In his contribution, Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Wahab Olumuyiwa Jimoh, cautioned his colleagues over the proposed section that empowers the House to remove or suspend defaulting council chairman.

Jimoh argued that the House should not make councillors handicapped adding that the legislative arm, as the third tier of government, is also important.

While supporting Jimoh’s position, another lawmaker, Ibrahim Layode, said: “section 24 (a) needs better explanation so that we don’t hamstring the legislature at the local level.”

The Speaker however explained that there was need to allow the resolution of the House to be enforceable.

He explained further that there was no provision that takes over the power of the councillors in the proposed amendments.

“We had passed resolutions for the removal of two or three council chairmen in the past but the Governor did not comply with the directive.

“With this new amendment, we as a House, can go ahead and remove any erring chairman,” he said.

The bill was subsequently handed over to the House Committee on Local Government Administration, which was directed to report to the House on 18 April, 2016.