Sanwoolu, Obasa Sets To Renew Political RIvalry Over Unapproved Appointments
Fresh political crisis is brewing between Governor Babajide
Sanwoolu of Lagos and the lawmakers in the state over the appointments without
the approval of the State House of Assembly
This is coming after members of the State House of Assembly
have called on the Governor Sanwo-Olu to direct the State’s Head of Service, Bode
Agoro, to withdraw letters of appointment issued to heads of agencies who
assumed office without legislative confirmation.
The lawmakers also insisted that the State
Accountant-General should henceforth stop the payment of the salaries and
allowances of affected appointees while the Assembly directed Agoro to appear
before it over the controversial appointments.
A member representing Ajeromi Ifelodun 1, Lukman Olumoh, who
raised the motion during the Tuesday plenary presided over by the Speaker,
Mudasiru Obasa, lamented that agencies whose heads were not screened often
resist oversight, claiming they are not under the Assembly’s supervision.
Another lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo 1, Stephen
Ogundipe, while supporting the motion, said anyone seeking public office must
be ready for legislative scrutiny which will not only help to evaluate
competence but also ensures transparency in governance.
The Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, while Reacting to the
motion, expressed displeasure that the matter had become a recurring issue,
stressing that it was wrong for the executive to disregard legislative authority.
“It is unnecessary for the Head of Service to continue to
ignore the directive of the House of Assembly. The House allocates funds to
these agencies, yet their heads treat the Assembly with disrespect,” the
speaker said.