· ADOPTS HEALTH COMMITTEE REPORT
Lagos State Government has been enjoined by its Assembly to adopt online information management for all agencies in the State through the Ministry of Science and Technology; and Records and Archive Bureau.
The House therefore resolved to call on Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Ministry of Science and Technology to collaborate with the Records and Archives Bureau to perfect the system, as well as sensitize all Government agencies on the need and importance of having an Online Information Management System.
The House made this resolution in a motion moved by Hon. Desmond Elliott representing Surulere Constituency I, who noted the importance of adequate record keeping and maintenance for comprehensive documentation, avoidance of duplication and tracking of information in the State.
He further expressed that it is worrisome the way and manner in which records are kept in government agencies and institutions, as manual record keeping systems are still largely relied on, and this slow down processes and activities of these agencies.
Hon. Elliot stated that section 2 (2) to 16 of the Records and Archives Law, 2015 Cap. R1 Laws of Lagos State, provides that the Records and Archives Bureau will establish standards and advise on best practices on records and archives of the State; establish and implement procedures for the control and management of public records of enduring value; establish and implement procedures for transfer of public records of enduring value, for preservation and management in the State archives or such archival repository as may be established under this Law; undertake research and disseminate knowledge on the preservation and management of public, private and historical records; preserve, manage and make available for consultation, public records selected for preservation or kept in its custody and care at the State Archives or any other archival repository under the control of the Director-General.
Speaking on the position, Hon. Rotimi Olowo while appreciating the aptness of the motion said the best way of keeping information in the modern world is online which allows for case of retrieval, storage, transfer as well as the fact that it is clean and cheap.
Hon. Olanrewaju Afinni opined that the government needs to deploy the use of technology in keeping information and processing accurate data. He added that Ministry of Science and Technology should be involved as they are the agency in charge of keeping and updating information when needed.
Hon. Tunde Braimoh observed that at a time like this, people sit down at the comfort of their rooms or offices and access information all over the world. “It is very obsolete for us to rely on paper when we can create the means to convert paper document into files that we can access using technology.”
“This is already affecting our economy and security, because when people lack knowledge and information about the functionalities of the government, people get misled and brainwashed which causes breeding ground for insurgencies and violent crimes like Boko Haram. We need to address all these and ensure that people have adequate access to information.” He emphasized.
Hon. Kehinde Joseph added that some of the MDAs lack information management system which can assist them on arrangement, update and recording of files. “If you go to some of our ministries, it is highly embarrassing the way their files are arranged; applying information management system will assist them in creating more spaces in their offices, while giving them easy access to documents.”
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to send a clear copy to Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In another development, Members of the House adopted the recommendations of the report presented by the House Committee on Health Service on a petition titled, “Request for the appointment of Traditional Medicine Practitioners as the Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board.”
Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Olusola Sokunle representing Oshodi /Isolo Constituency I who read the report, observed that the Health Reform Law, 2006 stipulates that the Chairman of the Traditional Medicine Board must be a registered graduate with the Board and must have a minimum experience of ten years in traditional medicine field.
The Committee therefore recommended that in the forthcoming constitution of the Traditional Medicine Board, priority should be given to a Member of the Association of the practitioners to be appointed as the Chairman of the Board in the view that the Association have Members that are qualified university graduates with over ten years cognate experience in the field.
After much deliberation from the Members, they adopted the amended recommendations of the Committee as the resolution of the House.
