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Alimosho Chairman's Suspension Lawfully Done- Lagos Assembly Insists




As the battle rages between the Lagos state house of Assembly and embatttled Chairman of Alimosho local government,Jelili Sulaimon,the Assembly has disclosed that due process was followed in the suspension of  Sulaimon and that the house acted Lawfully ,contrary to the claim of Sulaimon's lawyer 



The Assembly in a press statement issued by the Chairman,house committee on information, strategy and Security, Hon Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode berated the lawyer of Sulaimon for his "rhetoric  and half baked details ", stressing that the decision to suspend the Chairman was done in conformity with the rule establishing the local governments and powers vested in the Asssmbly by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 



According to Hon Ogundipe "the attention of the Lagos State House of Assembly has been drawn to a statement  supposedly signed by Dr Abdul Mahmud, counsel to the embattled Alimosho Local Government Chairman, Mr. Jelili Sulaimon, claiming to condemn the unanimous agreement of the Assembly to suspend his client on Monday, October 7, 2024"


"Beyond the sensational rhetoric and half-baked details in the statement that is replete with emotions rather than deep-thoughts, it is pertinent to break down the real situation and puncture arguments as to the powers of the House to suspend Mr. Jelili"


The Assembly Spokesperson asserted that In his race to the public to 'garner' sentiments, Jelili's lawyer forgot to remember that there are no local government areas that created themselves. In other words, the creation of a local government follows strict processes of the law and Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) creates the path to knowledge about this.


"The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution, guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to Section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils." Does this answer a question from the arguments of Jelili's lawyer as to who has the power to create laws that regulate the activities of local government councils and their administration?"


Continuing"for better understanding, that section provides for the existence of: democratically elected system of Local Government to be guaranteed by a law of the State House of Assembly.The same section provides that the House of Assembly is required to make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to Local Government Councils in a State. Section 8(3) highlights the procedure to be undertaken by a State House of Assembly in the creation of a new Local Government Area(s) in a State while Section 8(4) highlights the procedure to be undertaken by a State House of Assembly, through law, in the boundary adjustment of existing Local Government Areas.


Hon Ogundipe further reiterated thatbSection 162 (8) of the Constitution stipulates that a Law of the State House of Assembly shall provide for the distribution of monies standing to the credit of Local Government councils in a State.


In his words "Maybe we should remind him, his client and those travelling with him that Section 128 of the same Constitution further gives clarity to the powers of the House of Assembly"


"Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly shall have power

by resolution published in its journal or in the

office Gazette of the Government of the State

to direct or cause to be directed an inquiry or

investigation into -

(a) any matter or thing with respect to which it

has power to make laws"


Here and based on the above constitutional provision, we are moved to ask again: who is legally guaranteed to make the law that creates the running of the local government? It is definitely not the National Assembly which is granted the constitutional powers to create states and not local governments.


This brings us to the Lagos State Local Government Administration Law (as amended) upon which the creation, administration and related activities of the local government system of Lagos State are based.



The ebullient Lawmaker equally asserted that for better public information and effective knowledge, Section 24(a) of the amended law, gives powers to the Lagos State House of Assembly to pass a resolution for the removal or suspension of any chairman, vice chairman, or official of any local government area (LGA) or local council development area (LCDA) after conducting an investigation. It states further that all that is needed for this resolution is a simple majority of the Assembly members. This emphasis is further highlighted in Section 5 of the law"


He also clarified that, if the governor does not act on this resolution within seven days, the House can override this inaction with a two-thirds majority vote, effectively removing or suspending the chairman or vice chairman immediately.


"This amendment aims to ensure accountability and maintain order within the local government structure in Lagos State. For a detailed exploration of this law, you can refer to the full text on the Lagos State Government website"


Hon Ogundipe Concluded that with  this level of enlightenment as to the position of the laws guiding the administration of local government councils, it further important to avoid misinformation or misrepresentation of the recent Supreme Court judgement concerning local governments in Nigeria. There is a marked difference between a financial autonomy (upon which the lawyer's argument rests) and administrative powers of the House. 


The rush according to Hon Ogundipe to churn out a defence armed, albeit, with inferior understanding of the Supreme Court judgement does not give sufficient case against the action of the House of Assembly.


He disclosed  that this is not the first time the Lagos State House of Assembly would be suspending the same council chairman,stressing that  In May 2021, he was suspended with two others by the House for their total disregard for the local government guidelines created by the State Legislature"


In conclusion "while we urge against mawkishness, we would also like to task residents of the council and members of the public not to allow themselves  be swayed by positions and opinions that are opposite the law in this regard"

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