Lagos Assembly Reads Riot Act To LG Chairmen

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has read the Riot Act to local government chairmen, vice chairmen, councillors and other top officials in the 57 councils in the state, saying the era of pocketing funds meant for development of their areas are over in the state.

At separate meetings with the council officials said the assembly will henceforth monitor their activities to make sure they execute at least one project per quarter that will meet yearnings and aspirations of their people.

According to him, reports available to the House had shown that some of the council chairmen have not met the expectations of their people, warning that it will no longer be business as usual in the councils as the Assembly will now ensure strict compliance to serving the interests of the people.

The speaker frowned at the aloofness that the public office holders have exhibited at that level of government to the detriment of the expectations of Lagosians.

Obasa, who noted that council officials in Lagos were the only ones with four-year terms in Nigeria, added that it is disheartening how some of the chairmen personalise monthly allocations while their communities are crying for infrastructure and other forms of developmental initiatives.

“I wonder how you sleep with your eyes closed while your council cannot even build and equip a good maternity centre. You can’t justify the fact that in six months, there is no meaningful project done by you in your community.

“Some councils have no single project for over two years, you treat the vice chairmen and councilors like they must be subservient even when you are going astray. Some of your councilors have not received official vehicles up till now.

“Some of your councils do not have legislative chambers, meaning that the councilors have not been holding sittings. How then do you get approvals for the money you spend”, the speaker said.

• Yusuf Oketola