The Lagos State House of Assembly has adopted the recommendations of the 6-Man Ad Hoc Committee on the withholding of assent on the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2020 by Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of the State.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Victor Akande stated that the amendment of LAHASCOM Law 2015 was borne out of the need to enhance the administrative machinery of the House as an independent and autonomous arm of Government.
It would be recalled that the House sent the Bill to the Governor for assent since September, 2020. However, the Bill was not assented to by the Governor which prompted the House to set up an Ad Hoc Committee to proffer amicable resolution to the grey areas in the Bill with technocrats in the Establishment and Public Service.
Hon. Akande held various meetings with necessary officers in the Executive arm of government including the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Establishment and Training, Director, Admin and Human Resources (Public Service Office), Solicitor General/ Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice amongst others.
Mrs. Shitta-Bay T.K, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice in her submission stated that the creation of five Deputy Clerks of the House and equating their position to enjoy the rights, privileges and status of Permanent Secretary in the State Public Service could be the reasons for withholding of assent by the Governor.
She enjoined the Committee to critically look into the amendment and address controversial provisions of the Bill because a Permanent Secretary does not report to another Permanent Secretary.
However, Hon. David Setonji emphasized that the Clerk of the House is the Head of all Legislative Service and is therefore not on the same level with the Deputy Clerks.
He also reiterated the need to strengthen the administrative structure of the House to meet its peculiarities as one of the reasons for the provisions of the Deputy Clerk position in the Bill.
During one of the meetings, Hon. Kehinde Joseph appealed to Government officials to reason with the Committee and consider the amendments on their merits with a view to strengthening the cordial relationship that exists between the Executive and the Legislature.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mr. Ajibade Olusegun informed the stakeholders then that the peak of all public servants as gazette is Director, Grade Level 17 and cautioned that the Permanent Secretary position is a political appointment that should not be brandished at any officer in view of enormity of its financial implications.
After due considerations of the submissions of stakeholders at the hearings, the Committee recommended that the proposed Deputy Clerks should be reduced from 5 to 3; the Permanent Secretary status of the Deputy Clerks be retained with special remuneration packages different from Director in Grade Level 17; also, the Leadership of the House should determine additional modalities for rewarding diligent officers and outstanding performance by staff who are committed to the goals of the institution; amongst others.
The Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa stated that we have to encourage staffs as well as those who have shown dedication, commitment and those who have done their jobs perfectly.
“From the report tendered by the Chairman, the stakeholders that appeared before the Committee have not said anything contrary to make some of our qualified members of staff Deputy Clerk.” He added.
Following the deliberations, the House adopted the amendment of the recommendations of the Committee as the resolution of the House.
In another development, The Speaker has set up an 11-Man Ad Hoc Committee to look on the delineation of the administrative division of Lagos State.
This was done after the first and second reading of a Bill for a Law to provide for the Delineation of the Administrative Division of Lagos State and for Connected Purposes.
The Committee is to be chaired by Hon. Tobun Abiodun. Other Members of the Committee include; Hon. Victor Akande, Hon. Sylvester Ogunkelu, Hon. Temitope Adewale, Hon. Desmond Elliot, Hon. Richard Kasunmu, Hon. Ajani Owolabi, Hon. Raheem Adewale, Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu and Hon. Kehinde Joseph.
The Committee is to report to the House on the 15th of February, 2021.
