The Lagos State House of Assembly has suspended three local government council chairmen over alleged disregard for the guidelines governing their activities, stressing that the assembly can no longer continue to watch while they continue to flout the state’s local government guidelines
Penpushing reports that those suspended include Ogidan Mukandasi Olaitan of Lekki Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Suleiman Jelili(Alimosho local government),and Tajudeen Ajide (Surulere local government).
The lawmakers in voice note on Tuesday unanimously approved the suspension after Honourable Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1) raised a complaint against Olaitan of Lekku local council development area.
Penpushing further reports that, the lawmaker who is the chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, narrated to other assemblymen how allegedly”rude Olaitan had been”, and also complained on how Olaitan even accused the lawmakers carrying out an oversight function on a memorandum of understanding in relation to the issue that arose from a resettlement programme in Lekki of being ignorant of their jobs.
The lawmaker told his colleagues that the embattled council chairman had total disregard for those in his domain whom he was elected to govern, stating that his action as a lawyer was an insult to true governance and respect for the authority.
Penpushing also reports that, another lawmaker, Honourable Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju-Lekki 1),, while supporting Yusuff’s allegation, pointed out that Messrs Jelili and Ajide have been under investigation for graft.
The embattled Ajide had earlier been suspended by the legislative arm of Surulere local government over allegations of abuse of office in 2014,when the councillors in the council accused him of financial impropriety.
Penpushing further reports that, the lawmaker urged his colleagues to suspend the chairmen pending the outcome of the investigations, while Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, responding to the issue, noted that the House had received petitions from many councillors in the state against the chairmen.
”The House cannot continue to watch while council chairmen flout the laws they were supposed to uphold. Total disregard for the local government guideline is something that should not be tolerated. We cannot continue like this. We can’t be breeding monsters in our local government councils,” Obasa declared.
”It would not be ideal to gloss over the issue as it would be creating a precedence of disobedience to the law by council chairmen especially at a time the state is planning elections for new council chairmen, This will also serve as a deterrent. We have received many petitions from councillors,” Obasa declared.
Penpushing also reports that, Obasa, therefore\ directed the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to write Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and others concerned about the decision of the House.
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