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    Lagos Lawmakers Want Sanwo-Olu To Develop Framework For LG Legislative Autonomy

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    By Chibuike Chukwu

    Copyright independent

    Lagos Lawmakers Want Sanwo-Olu To Develop Framework For LG Legislative Autonomy

    Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have charged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to develop the framework towards achieving local government autonomy in the state.

    In this regard, the lawmakers urged the governor to mandate the state Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development to come up with the framework that would ensure independent financing of local government legislators.

    The Assembly also called on the governor to support council autonomy and ensure capacity-building training for councillors on financial management.

    The resolution to this effect followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Sani Okanlawon (Kosofe), which emphasised the need for financial independence of councillors to strengthen grassroots democracy and governance.

    Okanlawon noted that the 1999 Constitution recognises the legislative arm at the local government level as a key pillar of democratic governance, saddled with law-making, oversight, and representation.However, he lamented that local government legislatures currently rely on the executive arm for funding, a practice that undermines separation of powers and exposes councillors to undue executive influence.

    To address the issue, the Assembly directed its Committee on Local Government Administration, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development to begin work on enacting a self-accounting law for the legislative arms of the councils.

    Supporting the motion, Speaker Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa expressed concern over former council chairmen allegedly retaining financial control in some councils through Council Managers and Treasurers who remain signatories to accounts even after leadership transitions. He called for stakeholders to be summoned to correct the anomaly.

    Other lawmakers threw their weight behind the motion. Hon. Solomon Bonu (Badagry I) commended President Bola Tinubu for strengthening grassroots democracy, while Hon. Desmond Elliot stressed that the Assembly’s reform efforts would be incomplete without granting autonomy to local government legislatures.

    Hon. Akinsanya Nureni added that financial autonomy would empower institutions to function responsibly without external interference, noting that the Lagos Assembly continues to lead by example in legislative practice.

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