Lagos house of assembly who is delibrating on the estblishment of University of Medicine and Health Sciences Bill during plenary,
The Lagos State House of Assembly has constituted an eight-member Ad Hoc Committee to identify, document and facilitate the recovery of assets belonging to the Lagos State Government.
The committee is saddled with the responsibility of identifying and establishing the status of all documented and undocumented properties and other assets owned by the State Government.
Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Obafemi Saheed, emphasised that effective oversight and accountability remain key legislative responsibilities of the House. He noted that this includes scrutinising government expenditure, monitoring the utilisation of public funds and ensuring that taxpayers’ money is responsibly applied in line with approved objectives.
He further explained that the exercise would enable the committee to establish the assets owned by the State, assess their current status and determine whether they are being effectively utilised for the benefit of Lagos residents.
He enjoined the MDAs that were yet to submit the requested documents to do so without further delay and appear before the committee as scheduled. He warned that any Head of Ministry, Agency or Institution that treats the committee with disdain or fails to appear before it will be dealt with accordingly.
He added that the committee has the power to subpoena anyone and can seek the House’s approval to issue a warrant of arrest against recalcitrant persons.
The Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that have so far appeared before the committee include the Lagos State New Town Development Authority (NTDA); the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA); the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA); the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture; the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education; the Ministry of Tertiary Education; the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment; Lagos State Ferry Services; the Lagos State Printing Corporation; the Lagos State Agriculture Input Supply Authority; and the Lagos State Agriculture Development Authority.
During the engagements, the committee made pertinent inquiries and directed the MDAs to provide comprehensive records of all assets under their custody, including both documented and undocumented properties.
The exercise is aimed at identifying, verifying and facilitating the recovery of such assets for the benefit of the State.
The exercise is expected to continue, with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies scheduled to appear before the committee.
Other members present at the meeting were Hon. Jubreel Abdulkareem, Hon. Olayinka Kazeem, Hon. Samuel Apata, Hon. Sobur Oluwa and Hon. Bonu Solomon.
