Lagos State House of Assembly is set to amend the local government
administration law to make the tenure of the office of council chairmen four-
years instead of three as it is currently.
The proposed amendment is sponsored by the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa and
the sections to be affected by the amendment include sections 27 (1), 24 (a)
and an inclusion of 12 (1).
In the motion which was moved on the floor of the House during plenary
yesterday, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government Administration,
Hon.Kazeem Alimi explained that the tenures of council chairmen and councilors
would be adjusted to be in line with other representatives at the state level.
According to him, the proposed amendment would also take charge of the
power of the state Assembly to enforce removal or suspension of any erring
council chairman upon a petition from the concerned councillors.
Alimi also disclosed that the law would make categorical statements that any
chairman who had served for two terms would not be eligible to contest any
election as the head of local administration.
In his contribution, the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade maintained that
the Nigeria constitution gives state Assembly the power to create local
government, adding that for such creation to be effective the House should also
have the power to sanction any chairman if found wanting.
While stressing the need for the amendment, Hon. Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1)
commended the courage of the Speaker for coming up with the new Bill, saying
“previous efforts aimed at amending the law had proved abortive.”
Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso (Mushin 2) stated that after the creation of councils,
it is crucial for us to monitor the activities of the council bosses, saying “failure
to carry out proper investigation and pass resolution that must be obeyed, will
be counter-productive.”
However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Wahab Jimoh cautioned his colleagues
over proposed section that empowers the House to remove or suspend
defaulting council chairmen.
Jimoh argued that the House should not make councillors handicapped, saying
the legislative arm at the third tier of government is also paramount.
While supporting Jimoh’s position, another member, Hon. Ibrahim Layode
(Badagry 1) said “section 24 (a) needs better explanation so that we don’t
harmstrung 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.
Obasa recalled that “we had passed resolutions on two or three council
chairmen for them to be removed in the past but the Governor did not comply.
With this new amendment, we as a House, can go ahead with the removal.”
