In a bid to regulate the activities of cooperative firms in the State, the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Commerce, Industry and Cooperative held a day Public Hearing on “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Registration of Cooperative Societies in Lagos State and other Connected Matters”. Hon. Ganiyu Sanni, Chairman House Committee on Commerce, Industry and Cooperative stated that the Bill under consideration is for the purpose of reenacting the subsisting Cooperatives Societies Law, Cap. C14, Laws of Lagos State 2015 which intends to address the current challenges faced by Cooperative Societies in the State such as non-adherence to the provisions of the existing law by the operators, inadequate sanctions for defaulting operators/members and other identified lacuna which encourages impunity particularly among them. He added that the Bill which was inherited from the Federal Government upon its creation in 1967 seeks to address the problem associated with registration, management and operations of Cooperative Societies in the State for proper coordination. Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Majority Leader of the House, during the Overview of the Bill noted that the Bill seeks to empower the Directorate of Cooperative Society for Lagos State under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Cooperatives to oversee the enforceability of the regulations in this Bill in the form of management of Cooperative Societies in Lagos state. He further stated that the bill will create the mode of registration and qualification, restriction and terminations of membership therein; regulate the duties and privileges of the societies; how societies may run their affairs; how they channel and manage their funds; how they keep their books and power to inspect and audit; dispute resolution mechanism; cancellation/dissolution of registration; liabilities of past and present members. Hon. Agunbiade maintained that, “The process cannot be complete without your essential critique as it is our typical practice that we bring our bills to you for consultation, critique, deliberation and ultimately contributions. It is my stern belief that at the end of this session, we will have an even better Bill incorporating your varying experiences and wisdom”. Contributing, Mr. Shogbule Oladipo Olarewaju, the President of Lagos State Cooperative Federation Limited, LASCOFED stated that the functions of the apex organization which was in the year 2015 Law has been conspicuously absent in the new proposed Bill and the functions and duties of Lagos State Cooperative Federation should be restored into the Bill. Also, Section 53 which provides that a Director will conduct elections for the Cooperative to run its affairs is anti-cooperative because election is about internal control and any attempt to take conduct of elections away from members will amount to undue interference in the affairs of cooperative activities. Mrs. Bosede Oyekunle, the General Secretary of Eti-Osa Cooperative Union expressed the need for the roles and responsibilities of LASCOFED to be clearly reflected in the Bill and the need for all areas of electoral officers of LASCOFED are included and well represented. Mr. Gboyega Ednard expressed his displeasure with Section 3 with regards to appointment of Director from the State Civil Service, stating that people who have worked in the Ministry hope to rise to the post of Director but importing a Director from outside will only demoralize the workforce. In response to the concerns raised on some clauses in the Bill, the Deputy Speaker Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni assured the stakeholders that the Bill would include the aggregate of the submissions of Lagosians.
