Kunle Adelabu, Oluwatobiloba Alake & Adekunle Okikiola (SIWES Students)
The Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, has cleared the air that the State Lawmakers does not collect Constituency Allowance or any special fund for projects, adding that funding of projects in their respective constituencies has been from their salary allowances.
The lawmaker, representing Ikorodu Constituency I, stated this during the 3rd edition of the Annual Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting organized simultaneously in the 40 Constituencies of Lagos State by the Assembly.
The Ikorodu Constituency I phase of the meeting which was tagged, “True Representation & Accountability”, was held at the 700 Seaters Auditorium in Lagos State Polytechnic Main Campus in Ikorodu on Friday, October 6, 2017.
In his address at the event, Hon. Agunbiade stated: “In Lagos State House of Assembly, there is nothing like Constituency allowance or any special allowances for the lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Whatever any representative is doing in his/her constituency, it is solely from his or her salary allowances”, he stated.
“What I have been doing with the mandate given to me has been from my salary that is meant to keep my soul and family together. It is out of giving back and delivering on promises that I made during campaign. With your supports, I shall do much more”, he pledged.
Explaining the theme for this year’s edition, Hon. Agunbiade stated, “Our choice of this theme is in consonance with the determination and deep commitment of the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly under the able Leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, in ensuring that our people have meaningful representation through good laws that guarantee infrastructural developments; the creation of more jobs, qualitative education for the benefit of all; affordable health care delivery system that ensures the well-being of our people; the establishment of a security system that promises safety of lives and property amongst others.”
He stated that the purpose of the stakeholders’ meeting is to allow constituents have input in the preparation of the budget.
He added that most of the various infrastructural projects embarked upon by the executive are as a result of the views gathered by the Assembly during the 2nd Stakeholders’ meeting.
“I am exceedingly delighted to inform you that most of the various infrastructural projects which are evident and visible across the Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas in the State are the outcomes of the 2015 and 2016 meetings respectively.”
He listed the ongoing construction of Owutu-Isawo and Igbogbo/Igbe/Ijede roads as part of the projects that drew the attention of the executive arm, based on the Assembly’s recommendations.
Stating the objectives of the meeting, Hon. Agunbiade submitted, “The objectives of the Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting are to strengthen participatory democracy; ensure true representation through accountability; seek inputs from constituents on their welfare and needs; and also to garner continued support of the people for the Government”.”
Also among achievements of the 8th Assembly as stated by the Majority Leader was the passage of sixteen (16) bills into Law. He added that the Assembly also received 850 petitions and attended to over 600 of them conclusively and also passed over 200 resolutions.
On his own achievements in Ikorodu Constituency I in the last two years, Hon. Agunbiade listed rehabilitation of collapsed block of classrooms in his alma mata, Zumratul Primary School, Ikorodu; donation of over 500 school uniforms to pupils of the school and other gifts during his birthday in 2016, construction of one borehole water; successful organization/sponsorship of 2nd and 3rd Oba Shotobi Independence Day Marathon; securing employment for over 20 constituents; playing a major role in stoppage of Badoo, militancy and kidnapping challenges as well as playing key role in the award of the rehabilitated Solomade Road.
Others were successful hosting of Iftar Ramadan programme in 2016 and 2017 and the formation of Ikorodu Division Renaissance Foundation that is working towards the revival of the division’s culture and traditional heritages.
He apologized on behalf of the government for any shortcomings and promised that efforts will be made to correct whatever challenges ranging from bad road to insecurity and other areas.
He solicited for the constituents’ inputs in the ongoing amendments of the 1999 Constitution.
“The pattern of voting on the issues of amendment at the National Assembly is hereby presented to you on a different page and we shall welcome your reactions to guide our pattern of voting on the subject matters as soon as they are finally transmitted to the House of Assembly.”
Presentations were made by the representatives of Community Development Associations, traditional institutions, religious groups, market associations, road unions, youth groups and others.
Over 600 bags of lake rice were distributed to dignitaries and participants after the meeting.
Requests from Constituency I
- Call for the amendment of Community Development Association (CDAs)/ Community Development Committees’(CDCs) law
- Call for the rehabilitation of Agura/Gberigbe road.
- Call for the provision of garages in Ikorodu with adequate security.
- Call for the rehabilitation of Ikorodu/Ijede Road.
- Call for deflooding of Zumratul Islammaiyyah Primary School, Odogunyan in Ikorodu North LCDA
- Call for the completion of the abandoned Sulaimon Soderu – Powerline Road in Eyita, Ikorodu.
- Call for the construction of Ita-Oluwo – Agbede Road in Ikorodu North LCDA.
- Call for building/citing of modern market in Ikorodu West LCDA.
- Call for the quick completion of Ori-Okuta Primary Health Centre in Ikorodu West LCDA.
- Call for the quick rehabilitation of Ikorodu-Shagamu Road.
