Lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly have expressed disappointments over the list of 39 commissioners nominees which was sent to them by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu last week.
During their plenary session held on Thursday, some of the lawmakers argued that the nominees do not reflect their expectations let alone the constituencies they represent.
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Whilst the Clerk, Olalekan Onafeko, read the names, lawmakers from Badagry Constituency 2, Ikeja and Ikorodu 2 wondered why their constituencies were ignored.
The lawmaker representing Ikorodu II constituency, Aro Abiodun, wondered despite the fact that his constituency contributes immensely to the success of the All Progressives Congress in the last election, Ikorodu got one slot in the list.
He raised a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ and the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Ademola Kasunmu, also lamented the absence of any nominee from Ikeja.
While the Deputy Chief Whip, David Setonji, lamented that Badagry was not represented in the nomination, Ladi Ajomale observed that the list was heavily one-sided in terms of religious consideration.
Setonji said “It seems like we have not learned our lesson. In one of the wards in my constituency, it was hard (during the election), but in the end, we proved ourselves, and here is the list, and not a single name from my LGA (was included).”
Nureni Akinsanya from Mushin, noted that the list did not come with the local government areas of the nominees. He also pointed out that the APC had technocrats who were not considered in the nomination.
His position was supported by Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho II), who noted that loyalists and party members deserved to be nominated as much as technocrats.
Joseph added that those who sacrificed their ambitions for the party or lost during the last election could also be nominated as commissioners and special advisers as they could still serve the people in other capacities.
Reacting to the matter, Femi Saheed said, as a former secretary of the APC in Lagos, he was aware that the party had technocrats who could be nominated.
“The House must thoroughly look at the nominees to make sure they are worthy of the nomination,” Saheed added.
Also, Adewale Temitope from Ifako Ijaye LGA also argued his LGA delivered in the last election but did not get a nomination in the list.
Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the House, then claimed their nerves pleading that the lawmakers see reasons with the governor over his choice of individuals in the list.
He asked them to understand that all local government areas in the state could not produce two commissioners each.
Obasa said that “the law gives room for the governor to decide who he wants to choose; the House also has the power to deliberate on his decisions.”
The Speaker, however, agreed that the list of nominees needed to include the LGAs they come from for the benefit of the state and the general public.
To this effect, the Clerk of the House, Onafeko, was directed to write to the governor requesting the nominees’ local government areas.
The Chief Whip, Fatai Mojeed, was thereafter mandated to screen the nominees and report back with his Committee to the House.
