Lagos State House of Assembly has moved to maximize sporting capacities in the State in order to provide opportunities for youth to realize their potential through sporting activities at the grassroots level. This was made known during the presentation of the Bill titled, “A Bill for a Law to amend the Lagos State Sports Commission Law 2017, to promote Youths and Sports Development in Lagos State and for connected purposes, 2021” by the Acting Chairman of House Committee on Youths, Sports and Social Development, Hon. Owolabi Ajani on Monday.
It would be recalled that the Committee held Public Hearing on Friday, 5th February, 2021 to seek inputs from various stakeholders and the public on the proposed amendment.
While presenting the Bill, Hon. Owolabi stated some of the observations made which include; creation of a new sub section (d) in section 23 which is to formulate policies for the regulation to ensure the protection of vulnerable participants in the Talent Hunt Contests, Tournaments and other competition; redrafting of Section 17 (1) to ensure Sporting Competitions, Championship, Tournaments among others, are to be organized by the Commission in all divisions of the State on a regular basis.; creation of a new sub-section (2) in Section 28 to enable the Commission to liaise with relevant political representatives of the beneficiary community on the area for development; amongst others.
The Acting Chairman further stated some of the recommendations of the Committee which include; creation of a new Section 22 which provides for the Youth and Sports Management Office and a new Section 22(2) which provides that the Office shall be headed by an officer not below Grade Level 15 in the State Public Service and shall be responsible to the Board through the Director General.
He added that Section 23 will provide a new sub-section which will be vested with the power to formulate policies for regulations to ensure the protection of vulnerable participants in the talent hunt contests, tournaments and other competitions. Another section will open a recreation centre and also provide the Commission the opportunity to liaise with relevant political representatives of the beneficiary community in the area for the development.
Also Contributing, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon observed that in Section (7) of the extant Law which talks about the tenure of office provides that the Members of the Board other than the Director-General shall hold Office for a term of four years and may be reappointed for another term and are to operate on a part-time basis.
He suggested that considering the enormous responsibilities that the Commission is being saddled with and the need to use sport to foster development in the State to help solve the restlessness of the youths, the Commission should operate on a full-time basis.
“In the era of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commission used to be full-time in the Sport Commission but nowadays what they are doing is part-time which I believe is the reason we are failing in the sport activities. Like the Speaker said last week, we need to use sport to generate economic development for our youths and to help solve our insecurity issues.” He added.
In response, The Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa suggested the Commission shall operate on a full-time basis, adding that, “Looking at our desire about the Law and what we intend to achieve, it will be a full-time work because we must not give room for failure.”
Following the deliberations, the House adopted the amendment of the recommendations of the Committee as the resolution of the House.
