When the 8th Assembly was inaugurated on June 8, 2015, the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and his team did not waste any time but hit the ground running. It is a year plus now since their inauguration. What are his achievements?
In his inaugural speech, he set an agenda of thesState legislature and this was what he said: “we are here to serve the people. Our new members would find that we are often besieged by lobbyists and their advocacy plays a valuable role here. But we must never forget whom we really serve, the people of Lagos State.
Among its achievements, the house re-ordered the state budget to enable Governor Ambode deliver on his promises to the people of the state in good time. This singular act, no doubt enabled the state government to purchase state of the art fighting equipment, which included surveillance helicopters, patrol vehicles, armoured personnel carriers running into billions of Naira.
Another feat achieved by the Speaker is the delivering of the state 2016 budget to the state Chief Executive timely and promptly, which the speaker promised the Governor when the document was laid by the Governor.
Again, the Assembly under the able leadership of Hon. Obasa made giant strides in the last one year by passing 88 resolutions and six bills within the period.
Some of the bills include, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund Law 2015 aimed at tackling unemployment in the state, there was also the local government administration (amendment bill), to deepen grassroots democracy, Neighbourhood Watch bill to enhance security. Some of the bills have been signed into law by the Governor.
The house is currently working on a bill to stem the spread of cancer among Lagosians it aims to assist very poor Lagosians to defray high cost of cancer treatment, it is one of the four bills sponsored by the Speaker in the last one year.
As part of the achievements, the house has also unveiled her social medial platforms. Addressing journalists during the unveiling Speaker Obasa said: “for purpose of the record, this house within one year has passed about law resolutions while six bills have been passed and signed into law by the Governor.
“These resolutions and laws are those that border on the security and well-being of Lagosians, and have direct impact on them. We shall surely take Lagos to a greater height.
Achievements contained in his ten point agenda include, thorough passage of the year 2016 budget; timely commencement of plenary sittings, organisign constituency stake-holders meetings simultaneously for the first time in all the forty (40) constituencies of the state.
Others include, holding the MDAS to account through intensive and effective oversight activities and responding earnestly to the petition by Lagosians through appropriate standing or ad-hoc committees.
Obasa also revealed that series of training programs were organized for law makers and staff to improve their efficiency with a functional website and likely live-streaming of plenary sessions from the chamber.
Other achievement were the hosting of constitutional lawyer, Prof Itse-Segay and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana and a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Musliu Smith on June 13, 2016 to mark the annulled June 12, presidential election won by Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.