24th June, 2011
Members of the Lagos state House of Assembly have declared that they are still awaiting Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s cabinet list.
They also expressed their preparation to screen the likely candidates for the appointment but said the delay in the performance of their duty in this regard was because the list has not been made available to the House.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the lawmakers, who had earlier embarked on a three-week break immediately after the inauguration of the Seventh Assembly, had to resume after two weeks to accommodate and work on the list which they thought would be made available this week.
They however embarked on a one-week break yesterday after it became obvious that the list was not ready for the House. They also said the one-week break was to allow the governor adequate preparation.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Kolawole Taiwo, who was delegated by the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, to speak on the issue, said the anxiety among residents of the state on who becomes the commissioner had nothing to do with the lawmakers.
“The functions of the House begins from when the list gets here and up till this moment, the House has not received any list.
“I don’t see any reason why the House would shield the list from the people or even refuse to work on it if it is available to us here,†he said.
Asked the likely reason for the delay, Mr. Taiwo said the governor was in the best position to answer the question.
“It is the governor’s prerogative to tell you the reason for the delay,†he said adding that there was nothing the House could do till the list is made available.
Another lawmaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, informed P.M.NEWS that the list had stalled legislative activities as according to him, it is when the list is sent to the House that committee activities would begin.
—Eromosele Ebhomele